A request by a support staff member to have his or her position assigned to a higher salary grade will be evaluated primarily by comparing the duties and responsibilities of the position with the position level descriptions, but comparisons with similar positions of Kenyon and other employers may also be made.
In accordance with standard accepted personnel practice, evaluations will not be based on the performance level of the position incumbent.
The following procedure will apply to upgrade requests of non-exempt staff members:
Step 1. Review by Director of Human Resources
The staff member should submit a written request to their supervisor. The request should include a statement of the reasons for the request and a new completed position description questionnaire if the primary duties and responsibilities of the position have substantially changed since the last questionnaire was completed. The supervisor will forward the request to Human Resources, together with his or her comments and any comments of the division head. If the Director of Human Resources grants the upgrade request, the staff member and the supervisor will be notified. If the Director denies the request, the explanation for that decision will be provided in writing to the staff member and the supervisor. The Director will normally notify the staff member and supervisor of their decision within 30 days following receipt of the upgrade request and a newly completed position description questionnaire.
Step 2. Review by Position Upgrade Appeal Committee
The staff member may appeal a denial of the upgrade request by submitting a written appeal to the Director of Human Resources. The Director will immediately forward the appeal request, and all information submitted by the staff member in support of the request, to the Position Upgrade Appeal Committee along with the reasons for the denial of the upgrade request. The Position Upgrade Appeal Committee will consist of two members (one exempt and one non-exempt member) of the Kenyon Staff Council, and one Senior Staff Member. Position Upgrade Appeal Committee members will be appointed by the Vice President for Finance. If any member of the Position Upgrade Appeal Committee is from the same division as the staff member submitting the appeal, the Vice President for Finance will appoint a substitute. The Position Upgrade Appeal Committee will make its decision by majority rule. The Committee will review the upgrade request and any information submitted by the staff member, the staff member's supervisor and the department head in support of the request, and the reasons of the Director for denying the request. The Position Upgrade Appeal Committee will normally notify the staff member, the supervisor and the Director of Human Resources of its decision within 30 days of receipt of the appeal. If the appeal is denied, the staff member must wait one year from the date of the decision before submitting another upgrade request.