TEXAS AGRILIFE EXTENSION SERVICE PROCEDURES

Approved: February 17, 2000
Revised: March 23, 2001
June 1, 2001
July 11, 2002
June 16, 2006

The following procedure establishes criteria for participation in the salary augmentation program for employees with faculty and faculty equivalent titles in Texas AgriLife Extension Service (Extension). The purpose of this program is to recognize outstanding performance on the part of these employees.

The salary augmentation plan is primarily designed for faculty without teaching appointments and will hereafter be referred to as the Salary Enhancement Program (SEP).

Faculty with Extension administrative appointments are not eligible for participation. For purposes of this procedure, "base salary" is defined as an employee’s salary before initial approval to participate in the SEP.

2.01 Approval for participation in the plan will be determined on an individual basis, with recommendations from the appropriate administrator to the Director.

2.02 Recommended names and source of funds are to be submitted to the Director for approval prior to the beginning of the fiscal year. Approved salary increases will be effective September 1. All sources must be approved by the department head as appropriate and allowable and free of any potential conflict of interest.

2.03 Agreements will be documented in writing between the faculty member and the respective Department/Unit Head and forwarded to the Director for final approval. Agreements should state term dates and salary amounts. A sample request/agreement form is attached (Attachment A).

2.04 Approval to participate in the SEP is not automatic and will be contingent upon a faculty member demonstrating continuing quality programs, outstanding job performance, and availability of funds, including ensuring that operating funds are not eliminated or unrealistically reduced to support the salary enhancement.

Eligible Extension sources of funding for the SEP are limited to active contracts/grants (non-federal and non-state sources) residual funds, gifts and fee-based programs. Grants and gifts must include authorization to use funds for faculty salaries and will pay their proportionate share of benefits in the months that salaries are funded from these accounts. State and Federal appropriations are ineligible sources for funding SEP.

All fund sources must be identified and have sufficient funds to meet the annual salary and benefit requirements by September 1.

4.01 SEP participants do not elect a less than 12 month appointment and will be considered 12-month faculty.

4.02 SEP increases may not exceed 20% of annual base salary.

4.03 Termination of the SEP agreement can be requested at any time by either of the parties.

4.04 All SEP agreements terminate on August 31. Upon expiration of the agreement, annual salary will revert to the base salary rate plus any salary increase received on the base portion of the salary during the period of the agreement. Future approvals will depend upon future performance.

5.01 During the SEP agreement period, faculty will continue to be eligible for any regular salary adjustments as applicable according to the System policy and regulation, and guidelines of Texas Cooperative Extension.

5.02 In the event the funding for the SEP salary increase becomes unavailable during the agreement period, other eligible external funds may be substituted with appropriate approval. If other funds are not available, the salary augmentation will be terminated immediately and the salary will revert to the base salary for the remaining months of the fiscal year.