Faculty Positions
A faculty member is an individual who holds an academic appointment, either full-time or part-time, and performs a combination of teaching, research, clinical, and/or service functions. As outlined in the Faculty Handbook, these appointments typically fall in three broad categories: tenured/tenure-track, renewable contract and temporary. Regular tenured/tenure-track and renewable contract appointments will be twelve-month faculty or nine-month faculty as outlined below.
Twelve Month Faculty Pay
Twelve-month faculty provide services year-round, during both the academic year and non-academic year periods. These employees are paid through the UA Payroll Office on the monthly payroll schedule over a period of twelve months.
Nine Month Faculty Pay
Nine-month faculty provide services during the academic year period, August 16 – May 15. These employees are also paid through the UA Payroll Office on the monthly payroll schedule. There are two pay distribution cycles in which nine-month faculty can be paid, non-deferred pay distribution cycle (9-over-9) and deferred pay distribution cycle (9-over-12). Additional information is available in the Nine-Month Faculty Pay FAQs.
Non-Deferred Pay Distribution Cycle (9-over-9)
Nine-month faculty members have the option of receiving the nine months of pay over the nine-month period the services are provided, August 16 – May 15, as indicated by the term 9-over-9 or non-deferred. With this option, salary is fully disbursed as it is earned during the 9-month appointment.
Deferred Pay Distribution Cycle (9-over-12)
Nine-month faculty members also have the option of receiving the nine months of pay over a twelve-month period, August 16 – August 15, as indicated by the term 9-over-12 or deferred. With the deferred pay distribution cycle (9-over-12), salary is not fully disbursed as it is earned. That is, a portion of the salary is held back or “deferred” from the payments made during the academic year period, August 16 – May 15, and paid during the non-academic year period, May 16 – August 15. The term “deferred compensation” is used to distinguish between the amount earned versus the amount paid. The deferred pay distribution cycle (9-over-12) is the default pay cycle for nine-month faculty.
Nine Month Faculty Election of Pay Distribution Cycle
Nine-month faculty members in regular tenured/tenure-track and renewable contract appointments will have the option to elect their pay distribution cycle per the guidelines below. The option to elect the pay distribution cycle is not available to faculty members in temporary appointments as they are paid in full during the months of their appointment. Additional information is available in the Nine-Month Faculty Pay FAQs.
- The default pay cycle for nine-month faculty is the deferred pay distribution cycle (9-over-12).
- After the deadline for Election Forms, Faculty members will not be able to change the pay distribution cycle for that academic year. Per IRS guidelines, elections are irrevocable once the work period has started and cannot be changed throughout the year. The work period for nine-month faculty is defined by UA as the academic year period, August 16 – May 15.
- Current nine-month faculty paid on the deferred pay distribution cycle (9-over-12) electing to be paid over 9 months for services provided during the academic year period must submit an Election Request Form by May 15 to change to the non-deferred pay distribution cycle (9-over-9) for the upcoming academic year.
- Current nine-month faculty paid on the non-deferred pay distribution cycle (9-over-9) electing to be paid over 12 months for services provided during the academic year period must submit an Election Request Form by May 15 to change to the deferred pay distribution cycle (9-over-12) for the upcoming academic year.
- Incoming nine-month faculty who will begin their employment on August 16 must submit their Election Request Form by July 31 to elect the pay distribution cycle for the upcoming academic year. If no election is made by the deadline, the incoming faculty member is automatically paid on the default pay cycle, (9-over-12) for the upcoming academic year. Thereafter, the faculty member must submit any election change in accordance with the May 15 deadlines listed above.
- Incoming nine-month faculty who do not meet the criteria above are automatically paid on the default pay cycle, (9-over-12) for the upcoming academic year. This includes:
- Incoming nine-month faculty who will begin their employment after August 16
- Incoming nine-month faculty hired after the July 31 election deadline, regardless of employment start date
- Incoming nine-month faculty whose hire documents have not been completed and submitted to Payroll by the July 31 election deadline, regardless of employment start date
Election Form
Current faculty will have access to the Election Form on the Employee Tab of myBama throughout the academic year, August 16 through May 15.
Incoming faculty may access the Election Form on the Employee Tab of myBama April 18 through July 31.
Changes submitted after the Election Form deadline will not be effective until the following academic year period. Additional information is available in the Nine-Month Faculty Pay FAQs.
Pay Distribution Impact on Benefits
Nine-month faculty members in benefits eligible positions are eligible to participate in benefits throughout the entire calendar year. Participation is not limited to the nine-month service period. Your pay distribution choice will have no impact on your benefits coverage, if enrolled, but it will change the amount of premiums deducted from your paychecks:
- Nine-month faculty paid on the deferred pay distribution cycle (9-over-12) will have benefits deducted over 12 paychecks, if enrolled.
- Nine-month faculty paid on the non-deferred pay distribution cycle (9-over-9) will have benefits deducted over 9 paychecks, if enrolled.
Premiums for benefits deducted over the 9 paychecks will be higher to allow for the value of the full calendar year premium to be deducted over the 9-month service period, consistent with the non-deferred pay distribution cycle. The higher premiums collected during the 9-month service period will be used to maintain employee benefit coverage during the non-academic year period, May 16 – August 15. If employment ends prior to August 15, faculty will be refunded any unused portion premiums. Additional information is available in the Nine-Month Faculty Pay FAQs.
Links
Nine-Month Faculty Pay Frequently Asked Questions
Nine-Month Faculty Pay Distribution Cycle Election Form
Deferred Pay Calculation Worksheet