Dear faculty and staff,
It has been two years in the making, and I'm excited that we're approaching the implementation stage of our Job Evaluation and Grading Project for Staff. I believe that there has been careful consideration given to this project and that it will move our university forward by helping take care of one of our most valuable assets - our staff members.
This project involved a thorough review of job titles, descriptions and pay structure, and relied on input from our own faculty and staff, including about 170 subject matter experts from across campus, as well as outside expertise when necessary. The findings were reviewed by the cabinet members to ensure the integrity of the results with regard to their respective divisions.
Although this project has hit some bumps along the way since it was launched in 2015, I'm proud of the work our steering committee, project team and dozens of other contributors have put in to making sure it wasn't rushed into implementation. We had to take the time to ensure we completed this project correctly.
As stated from the inception of this project, our findings will not cause any staff members to lose their jobs or have their salaries reduced.
The key result of this process is the creation of 571 new job titles and descriptions that are more reflective of the work required of each position within the university. The project also resulted in the establishment of six separate pay structures based on market data.
More accurate job titles and descriptions allow for more precise market matching and help limit the need for working titles, while the new pay structure will allow us to make sure compensation packages are better aligned with the current job market. The results of this project also will help us establish the foundational elements for career path development to provide more upward mobility within the university.
Notification letters will be sent out to all employees impacted by these results on Monday, Sept. 18, outlining the changes that will take place and informing them of how they will be impacted. Information sessions about these changes will be offered for all supervisors from Sept. 5-12, so they'll be equipped to answer any questions staff may have after receiving their letters. The changes will then go into effect starting Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017.
I look forward to seeing the hard work of so many individuals from across our university come to fruition with the completion of this project. I am thankful that it will help our university remain one of the best places to work in the nation for years to come.
UNT Proud,
Neal Smatresk
President