Gadsden State Community College

Employment Policies Overview and General Information

www.gadsdenstate.edu

Gadsden State Community College

Employment Policies Overview

www.gadsdenstate.edu

Accessing the Employee Handbook

Complete information on college policies and forms may be found by accessing the online Employee Handbook at gadsdenstate.edu/emphandbook/ or by clicking on the Faculty/Staff link on the Gadsden State’s website homepage. You can obtain a hardcopy to review from the following:• Human Resources Office• Executive Staff Offices• Libraries (Ayers, McClellan, and Wallace Drive Campuses)

Please make sure you print and sign the Employee Handbook Access Acknowledgement Form

Criminal Background Checks• State Board Policy 623.01 requires

criminal background checks for all full-time and part-time employees.• All employees must submit full

consent and personal information for the background check.• New full-time employees must pay for

background check. Current cost is $15.00.• Complete policy is available in the

Employee Handbook

Salary Schedules and Payroll Options

State Salary Schedules:o A- Presidento B- Deans/Vice-Presidentso C- Professional Staffo D- Faculty (Instructors, Counselors, Librarians)o E- F/T Support Staffo H- P/T Support Staffo L- Local (Skills Training Division)

Currently the only payroll option available at Gadsden State is Direct Deposit and it is required.

Employment Agreements

• Full-time faculty employment agreements are for a semester or nine month academic year.• Summer employment for faculty is determined by student need.• Employment agreements for administrative and support personnel are

effective September 1, unless otherwise specified.

Work SchedulesFaculty Work Schedules:• Full-Time instructors, counselors, and librarians employed on a nine-month contract will

work 175 days.• Faculty employed for the summer term will work 54 days.• Faculty are required to work a minimum of 35 hours per week, excluding the lunch period.• Weekly work schedules must comply with guidelines set forth by the President and State

Board of Education policy.

Administrative and Support Staff Work Schedules:• Full-Time administrative and support (staff) employees work the 245 days that the College

is officially open.• Full-Time staff are required to work a minimum of 40 hours per week, excluding the lunch

period.• The College work schedule and operating hours are determined by the President.

15 Holidays (College is Closed)• New Year’s Day• Martin Luther King/ Robert E. Lee Birthday• Memorial Day• Independence Day• Labor Day• Veterans’ Day• Thanksgiving Day• Day after Thanksgiving• Christmas Eve• Christmas Day• Five additional days designated by the

President (see college calendar)

Leave Policies

• Full-time employees are eligible to earn leave.• Permanent part-time support employees on Salary Schedule H are eligible to earn leave on a prorated

basis.• Leave may be taken in a minimum of 15 minute increments.• Leave request form is to be completed and approved in advance for planned leave.• For unanticipated absences, the leave request form must be completed immediately upon return to

work.

Types of Leave (Paid and Unpaid)

• Annual Leave• Court Attendance• Emergency Leave• Family and Medical

Leave• Job-Related Injuries

Absence• Maternity Leave

• Military Leave• Personal Leave• Professional Leave• Professional

Development Leave• Sick Leave• School Business

Absence

Leave PoliciesAnnual Leave: Sick Leave: Personal Leave:

• Annual Leave is earned by non-instructional employees only.

• Instructors, counselors, and librarians do not earn annual leave.

• The number of days earned per month is based on a range of years of full-time experience.

• Maximum of 60 days may be accrued and carried forward to next fiscal year.

• Earned annual leave days exceeding 60 during a year and not used are forfeited.

• Eligible employees earn one day of sick leave per month.

• Employees must work one-half of working days in initial month to accrue a day of sick leave.

• An unlimited number of sick leave days can be accumulated.

• Salary Schedule D full-time faculty are granted five days per fiscal year.

• Eligible employees on other salary schedules are granted two days per fiscal year.

• Personal leave is not cumulative. Unused personal leave is converted to sick leave at the end of the fiscal year.

• The reason for personal leave is not required but approval should be requested in advance.

School Business Absence

• School business absence is work that requires the employee to be away from their regular workstation.

• The school business leave request form must be completed by the employee and approved by the supervisor before the leave occurs.

Sick Leave Bank• Purpose

To provide a loan of sick leave days for participating members after accumulated sick leave days have been exhausted• Membership• Complete application (open enrollment Aug. 1 – Sept. 15)• Deposit 5 sick leave days in your account in the SLB• New employees are eligible as soon as 5 days are accrued

• Requirements• Must use all sick leave before you can borrow from SLB• May borrow up to 15 days with medical statement• Must repay borrowed days as earned (monthly)

Catastrophic Sick Leave• Eligibility• Must be a member of the Sick Leave Bank• Must use all earned leave (sick, annual, and personal)• Must provide medical certificate• Must have borrowed 15 days from the SLB• Must be approved by SLB Committee

• Availability of days dependent upon donations from other employees• Donations must be at employee’s request• Donations (days) are not repaid• Must be a SLB member to receive or donate days

Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

• The FMLA of 1993 requires covered employers to provide up to twelve (12) weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year to eligible employees due to the birth or adoption of a child, the employee’s own serious health condition, or because the employee is needed to care for a parent, child, or spouse with a serious health condition.

• Health benefits must be maintained during the leave at the same level of employer and employee contribution as prior to the leave.

• Accrued sick leave must be used as part of the twelve-week period. • FMLA leave is unpaid after accrued leave is exhausted.

• Eligibility requirements:• Employed at least 12 months• Work at least 1,250 hours during 12 months prior to start of FMLA leave (Example: 25

hours per week for 52 weeks = 1300 hours—would quality)• Must submit written request to the President

Evaluation Procedures and Conduct Code

Evaluation Procedures:• Each full-time employee will have an annual performance review/evaluation by their

immediate supervisor.• Each employee will have the opportunity to complete evaluation forms on all

administrative personnel in his/her chain of command.• Each employee will have the opportunity to complete an evaluation of College programs

and services.

Employee Conduct Code:• The Conduct Code is subject to all provisions of State Board of Education Policy.• The Conduct Code is applicable to all employees.• Violations may result in reprimand, suspension, and/or dismissal.• A copy of the Employee Conduct Code is located in the Employee Handbook.

Probationary Period and Tenure• Probationary Period

• Faculty – Six consecutive semesters excluding summer term.

• Administrative and Support (Staff) – Thirty-six months from date of full-time employment.

• Performance review/evaluation every 12 months

• Applies to all employees who work 20 hours or more per week

• Permanent Status (tenured) – full-time employees attain tenure after completion of the probationary period (time off due to unpaid leave of absence does not count)

Professional Attire Policy• All employees shall dress in a manner

and have an appearance that is appropriate and professional in light of their job functions and working environment.

• Employees may wear Gadsden State Community College logo apparel on Friday. All logo apparel should be neat, clean, and present a professional image.

• The College requires all employees to wear identification (ID) badges while on duty. ID badges are worn for security, identification, and customer service purposes. ID badges should be displayed for ease of visibility on the upper body.

• Questions regarding this policy should be directed to the employee’s immediate supervisor.

Professional Development Plan and Professional Growth Plan

• All full-time employees prepare a Professional Development Plan as part of the annual performance review/evaluation.

• Faculty• Professional Growth Plan is required when the faculty member plans to seek an

advancement in rank. Must be approved by the appropriate Executive Staff and the President.

Harassment Policy Title IX Coordinator

The Title IX Coordinator for Gadsden State Community College is Michele Bradford, Director of Diversity and Compliance. Any person who believes herself or himself to be subjected to discrimination, sexual harassment, intimidation, and/or exploitation should contact Ms. Bradford at her office in the Joe Ford Center—Room 126, East Broad Campus. Her telephone number is 256.439.6822. (Documentation is included in new employee’s payroll packet.)

Mandatory Online TrainingOn-line Workplace Harassment Training:• All employees are required to complete two on-line workplace

harassment training modules.• Follow the Faculty/Staff link from the Gadsden State website

home page and click on Unlawful Harassment Prevention Training for Higher Ed., and click on Preventing Discrimination and Sexual Violence.

• Upon completion, print both certificates and return to the HR/Legal Affairs Office.

On-line Ethics Training:• All employees are required to complete the on-line ethics

training.• Go to www.ethics.alabama.gov • Click on Ethics Training Video. • Upon completion, enter your name and print a certificate.

Please send a copy of the certificate to the Human Resources Office.

Drug- Free Workplace

• As a recipient of Federal contracts and grants, GSCC complies with the requirements of Public Law 100-690 for a drug-free workplace. • A copy of the complete drug-free workplace policy is located in the

Employee Handbook.

Gadsden State Community College

General Information

www.gadsdenstate.edu

Employee Tuition Wavier Program(Any two-year state college in Alabama)

• 1 year employment = 1/3 tuition waived• 2 years employment = 2/3 tuition waived• 3 years employment = full tuition waived• Includes dependents/spouse• Dependents eligible 5 years after employee retires

with 25 years of service

RSA-1 Deferred Compensation Plan

• This option is offered to Retirement Systems of Alabama members.• Members may contribute pre-tax dollars

lowering taxable income and reducing the amount of taxes paid.• The plan is available through payroll

deduction.• There is no minimum amount to contribute

each month and contribution amounts may increase, decrease, or stop as often as the payroll officer allows.• Members can enroll at any time.• Information is available at www.rsa-al.gov/ or

call 1-877-517-0020.

Committee Assignments

• Employees are given the opportunity to rank committees on which they would like to serve. Every effort is made to match employees with the appropriate committee. Employees may also be asked to serve on a taskforce as needed.• Professional employees are often required to conduct committee work outside

their normal work hours.

Professional Development• The Gadsden State Professional

Development Committee coordinates annual activities throughout the year for all employees, including such topics as:• Diversity• Customer Service• Motivational/Leadership• Community/National concerns• Learning and Teaching

Techniques/Styles• Health Issues

Gadsden State Alumni Association

• Gadsden State employees, students, friends, and supporters of the College are eligible for membership in the Alumni Association.

• Dues are $20 per year or $300 for a lifetime membership.

• Payroll deduction is available.• Dues and contributions provide student

scholarships.

Travel and Miscellaneous Services

Travel:• If you have to travel out of town or out of state on College business and you drive your

personal vehicle, you will be reimbursed at the current published rate for mileage as well as per diem.

• You may use a College state vehicle (if available) at no cost to your department with no mileage reimbursement.

• Please refer to the Financial Services link from the Gadsden State website home page for more details.

Miscellaneous Services:• Two Cafeterias (Ayers campus & Wallace Drive)• Three Bookstores (Ayers, McClellan & Wallace Drive)• Duplication Center• ID Badge• Vehicle Registration (hangtag)• Computer technical support

Gadsden State Cardinal Athletics

• Men’s basketball• Women’s basketball• Women’s softball• Men’s tennis• Women’s volleyball

Safety and Security Procedures

• The Office of Safety and Security is responsible for security and emergency response on all College campuses.• Complete policies for safety,

security, accident, and emergency procedures are detailed in the online Safety and Security Handbook.• Follow the Directory link from

the Gadsden State website home page.

Welcome Staff, Faculty, and Adjuncts

Go Cardinals!