For those NSF who are eligible for merit increases, such increases are based on
academic attainment, experience and performance, and are not automatic. NSF will
be eligible for merit increases in accordance with this Article in those years when the
University provides merit increases to non-represented academic employees.
Consistent with this MOU, decisions to grant or not grant a merit increase to
individual NSF are at the sole discretion of the University.
In
the event a NSF is not awarded a merit increase, the University will include an
explanation for its decision with the merit review determination.
NSF will be subject to merit reviews as follows:
Pre-Six year NSF merits - For pre-six year appointees, consideration for
merit reviews, and decisions regarding the timing and amount of individual
increases if any, will be at the sole discretion of the University.
Continuing Appointee merits - The University retains sole discretion in the
evaluation of an NSF's performance.
A Continuing Appointee will be considered for a merit review at the
time of the initial continuing appointment, and once every three (3)
years thereafter. At
the sole discretion of the University, a merit increase may be considered and awarded
before the completion of three years, after appropriate review. A lecturer may request
that his or her merit review be deferred for up to one year.
Upon review, if the NSF's performance since the last merit review is deemed excellent, the NSF shall receive a
merit increase of at least two (2) steps on the NSF salary scale.
The
University is not precluded from granting merit increases of greater than two steps.
Conversion of post-six year appointees to Continuing Appointees - For
current post-six year appointees who are converting to Continuing
Appointees, the NSF's next merit eligibility date shall be three years after the
effective date of the NSF's last merit increase or the effective date of the
NSF's last appointment contract, whichever is more recent.
Demonstration Teacher, Supervisors of Teacher Education, or any NSF whose
salary is paid on a By Agreement basis may be considered for a merit review at the
sole discretion of the University in accordance with procedures established by the
University at each campus.
MERIT GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES
The UC-AFT shall be provided copies of applicable campus merit guidelines
and departmental review procedures as they exist or as they are developed.
An individual NSF may request a copy of the applicable campus merit review
guidelines or departmental procedure(s).
The University may change campus merit guidelines and merit review
procedures according to the normal campus processes for revising such
procedures.
The University shall provide to the UC-AFT proposed changes to
campus merit guidelines at least a month prior to finalization. The
University will begin to apply changed guidelines to individual NSF only
with the beginning of the NSF's merit review cycle.
The University shall provide to the UC-AFT proposed changes to
departmental review procedures at least a month prior to finalization.
Upon request of the UC-AFT, the University shall meet with the UC-AFT
to discuss the effect of the proposed merit procedure changes
before the University implements such changes.
No later than November 15th of each year, each campus will provide the
UC-AFT with a list of NSF who were reviewed for merit during the previous
academic year. The information will include the campus, the NSF's name,
department, whether the individual was granted a merit increase or not, and
the amount of any such increase.
The provisions of this Article are not intended to preclude consideration for merit
review for the members of this bargaining unit.
An arbitrator shall have no authority to substitute her/his judgment for the
University's judgment regarding an NSF's performance or qualifications, nor shall
the arbitrator have the authority to order the University to provide a merit increase. If
the arbitrator finds a procedural violation, the arbitrator's authority shall be limited to
ordering the University to repeat the merit review from the point at which the
violation occurred. At the request of either party, the arbitrator may retain
jurisdiction.
