{"id":3521,"date":"2021-01-14T14:35:20","date_gmt":"2021-01-14T21:35:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/career\/?page_id=3521"},"modified":"2025-10-24T22:20:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T22:20:12","slug":"classification-compensation-students","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/career\/classification-compensation-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Classification and Compensation"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Classification and compensation of student positions<\/h1>\n
Classification<\/a> | Compensation<\/a><\/p>\n
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Classification of on-campus positions<\/h2>\n
Classification applies to the\u00a0position<\/em>, not to the\u00a0employee<\/em>. Student employment positions are classified according to\u00a0Role Category<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Level of Responsibility<\/strong>\u00a0(e.g. Academic Level 2). The resulting classification has a unique job code (e.g. 02002) that is used in PeopleSoft and helps us better understand (at a macro-level) how our student workforce supports operations. The steps below reflect the process used by Student Employment to classify (or reclassify) on-campus student positions. Supervisors, members of HR Service Teams or department administrators are invited to submit job descriptions for classification<\/a> through our online system.<\/p>\n\n
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\n Step 1: Role Category Tab Open<\/span>\n <\/h4>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n
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\n Step 2: Level of Responsibility Tab Closed<\/span>\n <\/h4>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n
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\n Step 3: Final Classification Tab Closed<\/span>\n <\/h4>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n \n
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Step 1: Role Category Accordion Open<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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The first part of a job classification represents the primary function of the position. While a position may include many different types of duties, select the one role category that encompasses the majority of duties. Role categories are intentionally broad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Role Category<\/th> Description<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Academic<\/td> Assist in the delivery of academic courses, and\/or those who help students reach their academic potential (Tutors, Teaching Assistants, etc.<\/em>).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Administrative\/Reception<\/td> Perform administrative duties in direct support of University projects, programs, and\/or departments, with varying degrees of public contact based on department (Student Admin Assistants, Desk Attendants, etc.<\/em>).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Financial<\/td> Perform accounting and\/or financial transactions and are charged with the responsible use of university funds (Accounting Assistants, etc.<\/em>).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Infrastructure<\/td> Support University operations, ensuring safe, compliant, and efficient practices (Grounds Crew, Custodial Support, Shuttle Drivers, Police Aides, etc.<\/em>).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Marketing\/University Advancement<\/td> Represent the University in person or via phone, or create content that represents the University in print or online, with the objective of promoting University projects, programs, and\/or departments (Social Media, Photographers, Graphic Designers, Communications Assistants, etc.<\/em>).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Peer\/Youth Educator<\/td> Interface with their peers or with youth, resolving questions and\/or contributing to others\u2019 personal, professional, and or physical wellness (Peer Mentors, Intramural Supervisors, Youth Programs staff, etc.<\/em>).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Research<\/td> Assist in the collection, analysis, and\/or reporting related to specimens, data, or other research material (Research Technicians, Lab Assistants, etc.<\/em>).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Technology<\/td> Support computer software and\/or other forms of technology and\/or interact with end users to document and\/or troubleshoot technical challenges (Tech Support, Coding Assistants, Software Engineers, etc.<\/em>).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n <\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n \n
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Step 2: Level of Responsibility Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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The second part of a job classification refers to the level of responsibility required of the job (i.e. Level 1-4). Areas of responsibility are defined below to provide context and encourage consistency in classification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Level of Responsibility<\/th> Definition<\/th> Questions to Consider<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Job Duties<\/td> Those functions described and detailed in the written job description (not assumptions about what the position might require an employee to do).<\/td> Does the supervisor provide clear instructions, guidelines, or processes for the tasks at hand?
\nWill the employee in this position need to create their own projects and\/or processes to accomplish the job?
\nHow difficult are those tasks or projects?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Experience<\/td> Previous experience required to be successful in the position.<\/td> Do the minimum qualifications, as written, include required classes or a number of semesters the student must have been at NAU?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Skill<\/td> Specific skills required prior to hiring\/training to be successful in the position.<\/td> Are the skills used in the job specialized (i.e. fluent in another language or proficiency with a specific lab instrument) or generalized (i.e. \u201cexcellent communication\u201d or \u201cself-starter\u201d)?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Supervision<\/td> Both the extent to which this position is supervised<\/strong> or works independently and the supervision<\/strong> or mentoring\/ training responsibilities required of the position.<\/td> How much supervision, guidance, training, mentoring, and autonomy is provided for the position?
\nDoes the job require the employee to formally supervise other students or informally mentor or train others?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Public Contact<\/td> The broader community and potential impact on reputation of NAU (not solely the number of times they might answer questions from the public).<\/td> Does this position have responsibility for the reputation of NAU or the department?
\nDoes the position require knowledge or execution of risk management? How much risk is inherent in the position?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n <\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n \n
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Step 3: Final Classification Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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The final step in classification uses the Classification Level Matrix<\/a> to determine the overall responsibility <\/em>required of the position. Keep in mind, a job description may require a higher level of responsibility in one area, but lower levels in other areas – i.e. high in supervision but low in public contact – the overall job classification will be the sum of all areas.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n
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Compensation of Student Employees<\/h2>\n
Effective July 22, 2024, NAU will increase the lowest paid wage (LPW) for our student employees to $15.50 per hour from the current $15.00 per hour rate and a new tiered structure (found below) will be implemented. Though NAU is only required to follow the federal minimum wage, a higher starting rate (with consideration of State of Arizona and City of Flagstaff minimum wages) better balances the economic needs of our student employees, while preserving the number of student jobs we can offer.<\/p>\n\n
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\n Pay ranges by classification level Tab Open<\/span>\n <\/h4>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n
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\n Guidelines for position reclassification Tab Closed<\/span>\n <\/h4>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n \n
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Pay ranges by classification level Accordion Open<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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To continue ensuring <\/span>equitable<\/span> compensation for student employees and <\/span>in accordance with<\/span> ongoing institutional increases as the <\/span><\/span>President’s Message on Increases<\/span><\/span><\/a> outlines, the following tiered pay rate structure and <\/span>accompanying<\/span> <\/span>classification levels<\/span><\/span><\/a> will be in effect as of July 22, 2024: <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Level 1<\/strong> – $15.50 – $15.75<\/li>\n
Level 2<\/strong> – $15.75 – $16.00<\/li>\n
Level 3<\/strong> – $16.00 – $16.25<\/li>\n
Level 4<\/strong> – $16.25+<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nNote for hiring supervisors: Student employees hired at or above the hourly rate of $17.00 require written VP\/Dean approval, per HR processes.<\/h6>\n\n\n <\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n \n
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Guidelines for position reclassification Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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The reclassification process exists to allow student employee supervisors to adjust a previously submitted job description classification to properly capture the scope of a student position as it may change over time. This occurs when the job duties, experience, skill, supervision, and\/or public contact of the role has fundamentally changed and results in the need for the position level to be altered.<\/li>\n
Reclassifications are not appropriate as a means to adjust student pay higher or lower if the job description and subsequent role itself has not changed.<\/li>\n
Reclassifications are completed for the position and are not student employee specific as it overrides the original classification and impacts all students in that role.<\/li>\n
When completing a reclassification, Student Employment will compare the newly submitted and originally submitted requests to ensure appropriate and honest changes have been made to the role. Submitters will receive an email with the reclassification result directly from StudentEmployment@nau.edu<\/a> upon it’s completion.<\/li>\n
It is Student Employment’s expectation and the supervisor’s responsibility to update the student employee(s) working in the reclassified position(s) of changes made to their job description, level of responsibility, and pay rate.<\/li>\n
To complete a reclassification: use the  <\/span><\/span>Update Existing Classification<\/span><\/span><\/a> option on the OnBase form. Submitters will need the position-specific Form ID to use the autofill feature. To find a form ID, look up the position in the Form ID database or refer to your final classification email (if it was received after January 1, 2021).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
If you have any questions on <\/span>if<\/span> a job description reclassification is <\/span>an appropriate step<\/span> for you and your student employees, please contact StudentEmployment@nau.edu<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n <\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n
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Contact Student Employment<\/h3>\n <\/div>\n
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