The distinction between types of employment is made for compensation and benefit purposes. (see “Benefits Guide”)

Regular: A regular status employee is scheduled to work full time, 30 hours or more per week, with the anticipated duration of employment in the position for six (6) consecutive months or more by the employing unit.* Regular status employees are eligible to participate in all applicable fringe benefits programs (see “Benefits Guide,” pg. 10). The term “regular” does not imply continued employment by the Research Foundation, nor does it guarantee a term of employment for six (6) months or more. Regular status employees, as are all Research Foundation employees, are employed “at will.” Competitive recruiting through Research Foundation process is required.

Temporary: Temporary status is appropriate where the work is intermittent or irregular, or is ongoing and part-time (less than 30 hours per week), and can not be readily fulfilled through use of a student employee. Employment may be full-time (30 hours per week or more) for no greater than six (6) consecutive months by the employing unit*. Temporary employees receive legally required benefits, where applicable (see “Benefits Guide”). Competitive recruiting through Research Foundation process is required for positions exceeding 60 days in duration.

UNIVERSITY APPOINTMENTS

Casual Student: A casual student is an undergraduate or graduate student of the University who is assigned to work on sponsored research or projects. Employment is part-time during the academic term, generally not to exceed 20 hours per week. Employment may be full-time during semester breaks and summer periods. The PI makes casual student appointments. Casual student employees receive legally required benefits, where applicable (see “Benefits Guide”). Casual students may be exempt from FICA based on academic enrollment.

Graduate Research Assistant (GRA): A graduate research assistant is a full-time graduate student of the University appointed through the University process and academic department and assigned to work on sponsored research or projects. GRAs receive legally required benefits, where applicable (see “Benefits Guide”). GRAs may be exempt from FICA based on academic enrollment. See the student financial aid and graduate assistantship guidelines in the University catalog.

Faculty: A faculty appointment is a University faculty member who is employed part-time on a research overload basis during the academic year or who is employed during the summer period on sponsored research or projects. Faculty generally perform services for the Research Foundation as the project director, PI, or co-PI of a sponsored project. Faculty receive legally required benefits, where applicable (see “Benefits Guide”).

Self Supporting Research Professionals (SSRP): SSRPs are individuals appointed by the University and employed by the Research Foundation generally as full-time regular employees. An SSRP may also have a faculty appointment at the University, if so designated through the University process. SSRPs are eligible to participate in all applicable fringe benefits programs (see “Benefits Guide”). The terms “SSRP” and “regular” do not imply continued employment by the Research Foundation. SSRPs are employed “at will,” unless their appointments are reduced to writing in an employment agreement signed by the executive director.

Postdoctoral Associates: Postdoctoral associates are individuals appointed by the University, who have obtained their doctoral degree and are selected for training appointments anticipated to last one to two (1-2) years. Postdoctoral associates are eligible for health and dental insurance, leave benefits and legally required benefits, where applicable (see “Benefits Guide”). Postdoctoral associates are employed “at will”, unless their appointments are reduced to writing in an employment agreement signed by the executive director. Competitive recruiting through the Research Foundation or University recruiting process is required.

NOTE: An employing unit is a PI, group of PIs who have agreed to share employees, an enterprise, or entity for which the Research Foundation has agreed to act as employer of record for employees funded through their respective grants, contracts or other research award funding.

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