Classification

Benefits Eligibility Categories

Full Benefits Eligible: This is defined as 30 or more hours per week or .75 FTE and greater, which applies to regular faculty and regular staff employees. Full benefits include all benefits in accordance with University System of Georgia of Board of Regents policy 8.2.9 Insurance.

Partial Benefits Eligible: This is defined as 20 to 29 hours per week or .5 FTE to .74 FTE. Partial benefits eligible may apply to regular faculty and regular staff employees. Partial benefits include retirement and pro-rated leave accruals.

Non-Benefits Eligible: This is defined as 19 or less hours per week (.49 FTE or less), which applies to regular faculty and staff employees. Non-benefits eligible also includes temporary faculty, staff, and student employees who may not work more than 1,300 hours in a 12 month period as defined later in this policy. Students may not be placed into a regular status.

Employee Categories

Faculty: The faculty shall consist of the corps of instruction and the administrative officers as defined in Section 3 of the Policy Manual of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.

Staff: Staff employees shall consist of two major employee groups 1) staff professional and administrative employees and 2)staff non-exempt and defined as follows:

  • Staff Professional and Administrative Employees are exempt from the Federal Wage-Hour provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) because of their professional or administrative responsibilities. (This group does not include faculty or graduate assistants); and
  • Staff Non-Exempt Employees are not exempt from the federal wage-hour provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). (NOTE: The University System of Georgia position classification system includes the appropriate FLSA status in the “Master List with Definitions and Guidelines”.)

  • Student Employees: Student Employees are considered temporary and include graduate assistants and student workers.

Employment Status Regular Employment Satus: Regular employment is considered continuous and may also be defined by agreement, contract, term, or restricted funding source(s). Regular employment may be benefits eligible, partial benefits eligible, non-benefits eligible, full-time or part-time, exempt or nonexempt. Regular exempt employment must meet the “salary basis” requirement under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).Salary Basis: Being paid on a “salary basis” means an employee regularly receives a predetermined amount of compensation each pay period on a weekly or less frequent basis and the predetermined amount cannot be reduced because of variations in the quality or quantity of the employee’s work subject to exceptions under FLSA.

Temporary Positions - Temporary employment is short in duration to address business needs and must meet the requirements and characteristics described below:

    • 1. A temporary is non-benefits eligible
    • 2. A temporary does not have an expectation of long-term employment.
    • 3. A temporary may be full-time or part-time.
      • a. A temporary employee may not exceeed a total of 1,300 hours worked in a 12-consecutive month period. The 1,300 hours can be accumulated in any combination during the 12 month period after which the temporary employee must have a break in service of 26 weeks.  Employment applies across all USG institutions.
      • b. If a temporary employee is needed beyond the 1,300 hours, they must be moved to a regular employee status.

Further information regarding this policy can be found at the following link: 

http://www.usg.edu/hr/manual/employee_categories

Temporary employees may be in a "lump sum" budget line or appear as a "line item" depending upon nature of appointment

(Note: Temporary staff hired through a temporary staffing agency are not VSU employees. For information regarding the process for hiring temporary staff through a temporary staffing agency, contact the Purchasing Office for assistance 229-333-5708.)

Student Employees: Student Employees are considered temporary and include graduate assistants and student workers. Student Employees may not exceed a total of 1,300 hours worked in a 12-consecutive month period. The 1,300 hours can be accumulated in any combination during the 12 month period. Student employees’ are not subject to the re-employment restriction requiring a break-in-service after 12-consecutive months of employment. International students in lawful F-1 and J-1 status who are enrolled full-time are eligible to work for an institution but must not work more than 20 hours per week in accordance with visa restrictions and must ensure compliance with Federal Work Study requirements. See the policy on position classification for additional information on student employees.

Student Positions - Full-time, part-time, or otherwise institutionally employed students shall be employed only on an hourly basis with remuneration for such work to be computed by the hour unless otherwise classified by the appropriate personnel officer. All student assistants are considered temporary and are not benefits-eligible.

Student Assistants - The maximum hours that you are allowed to work are 20 hours per week cumulative (in all jobs) for Fall and Spring Semester. Student Assistants are exempt from Social Security and Medicare taxes. If at any time their work hours exceed the 20 hours/wk, they will be terminated as a STUDENT ASSISTANT and reclassified as a Temporary employee.

  • Work Study Student Assistants - Federal Work Study is available through the Financial Aid Department; and this employment program is based on established financial need. Jobs are located on and off campus and work schedules can be planned around your class schedule. Assignments are made for the entire academic year. Work Study Students work a maximum of 20 hours per week cumulative (in all jobs) for Fall and Spring Semester.

  • Graduate Assistants - The maximum hours that you are allowed to work are 20 hours per week cumulative (in all jobs) for Fall and Spring Semester . VSU’s graduate assistantships are designed to promote the research, teaching, and service responsibilities of the University and to provide students with valuable professional development opportunities while earning a graduate degree. Therefore, the graduate assistantship involves the dual responsibilities of maintaining a satisfactory academic performance and of successfully performing the assigned teaching, research, or other responsibilities. These assignments are made through the graduate school. Graduate Assistants receive tuition remission as well as a monthly stipend.

  • Internships – Internships on the Valdosta State University campus are routed through the Cooperative Education Office in the Division of Student Affairs. Cooperative Education Work Experience is an academic program that offers an experience-based learning opportunity to explore or confirm the student’s career interests and plans, apply classroom learning to real world situations and practice or strengthen interpersonal and technical skills. The work experience may be paid or non-paid contingent upon the industry and type of work. Eligible students intend to graduate from VSU or are participating in a recognized transfer program. They must obtain Sophomore status (completed 30 hours) before being placed in an internship. They must also maintain a minimum semester and cumulative GPA of 2.0.
    Alternating Co-op: Students work full-time, alternating semesters. A minimum of two work semesters is required.
    Parallel Co-ops: Students work 10-20 hours per week while attending VSU a minimum of half-time each semester. A minimum of four work semesters is required.
    Part-time Internship: Students work 10-20 hours per week while attending VSU a minimum of half-time. Can repeat up to two semesters.
    Full-Time Internship: Students work full-time, up to two semesters

Interim Positions - An "Interim" title is used if an administrator resigns and a replacement is sought or if an administrator is absent for a longer period of time (usually exceeding three months). The "interim" person has both the authority and responsibility of the office.

 

Acting Positions - An "Acting" title is used if an administrator is absent or reassigned for a short period of time (usually three months or less). The absent administrator retains the responsibility of his/her position but delegates the authority to the acting person.


Full-Time - Employees in this category are those employed on a half-time or better basis and have all institutional benefits extended to them. (FTE of .49 or greater)

 

Part-Time - Employees in this category are those employed on a less than half-time basis and are not entitled to benefits of the institution. (FTE of less than .49)