Below is a list of commonly used terms and definitions to assist you when working with classification and compensation issues. This glossary is simply a guideline, and any System Regulation or Rule would prevail over any information listed.
Budgeted Staff Employee
A non-faculty employee whose position is specifically identified in the budget with a unique position ID. Budgeted staff positions are 50% or more effort (20 or more hours per week) for 4.5 months or longer and are benefit- and retirement-eligible.
Demotion
When an individual moves from one position to another position having a lower pay range and/or a less senior title requiring less education, experience and responsibility.
Exempt Employee
An employee who is exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act does not have to be paid overtime when he or she works more than 40 hours in a work week. The three major general exemptions relate to executives, administrative employees, and professionals. Exempt status is based on the employee’s actual job duties, responsibilities, and salary level.
Faculty Equivalent Positions
A term to define a non-teaching position that requires similar qualifications of a faculty position (i.e., Ph.D. or equivalent) and executes research activities such as designing, carrying out, and managing research, including services as principal investigators when appropriate, submission of research proposals, preparing research publications, supervising research staff and students. Because of the specialized nature of these positions, posting is limited to only that required by state and federal law.
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
A federal law governing minimum wage, overtime pay, child labor, and record-keeping requirements.
Nonexempt Employee
A nonexempt employee is entitled to overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Overtime at Texas A&M Engineering is paid at a rate of one and one-half the nonexempt employee’s regular rate of pay for each hour worked in excess of 40 hours per week.
Security Sensitive Position
A position is considered security sensitive if the answer is "Yes" to any one of the following questions.
- Do the duties of the position require dealing with currency?
- Does the position require access to master keys?
- Does the position require access to sensitive computer databases?
- Does the position require working in an area of the institution that is designated as a security-sensitive area?
- Does the position require working in an area of the institution that involves working with children under the age of 18?
Total Compensation
Includes not only direct pay but also indirect compensation, including insurance, retirement benefits, and time-off programs.
USA Patriot Act
A federal law passed in 2001 that makes it illegal for restricted individuals to work with certain biological agents, toxins or delivery systems.