What pay increase was approved for classified staff for 7/1/21?

At the 4/8/21 CU Board of Regents meeting, a 3% across-the-board (ATB) salary increase was approved for classified staff.

Who is eligible for the 3% ATB increase for classified staff?

All classified staff employees with an active appointment as of 6/30/21 are eligible to receive a 3% pay increase effective 7/1/21. It does not apply to new hires starting 7/1/21 or later.

What does “ATB” mean?

“ATB” is the abbreviation used for “across-the-board”.  This means the same rate (3%) applies to all eligible employees.

How is the classified staff 3% increase implemented?
  • The 3% increase is applied to the classified employee’s base pay rate as of 6/30/21 and before any other July 1 pay changes.
  • The classified 3% ATB is base-building up to the FY21-22 pay range maximum for the employee’s job classification. Any amount over the pay range maximum is annualized and paid as a one-time lump sum in the employee’s end of July paycheck. 
  • Updated are available from the Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration.
  • The final July 1 comp rate for classified employees is rounded to the nearest whole dollar if full-time and to two decimal places if part-time.
What does “base-building” mean?

An increase that raises an employee’s continuing/ongoing salary is considered a “base-building” pay increase. A non-base building pay increase is temporary and has an end date.  This year’s 3% ATB increase for classified employees is base-building up to the pay range maximum.

Why are pay increases for classified staff and university staff sometimes different?
  • Classified staff and university staff are two different personnel systems with different laws and policies that govern them.
  • Classified staff positions are part of the State of Colorado personnel system. Requirements for setting pay for classified employees are set by the state legislature and Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration (DPA).
  • University staff positions meet criteria under state law to be exempted from the Colorado personnel system. As such, university staff positions are not classified staff and are not subject to the state of Colorado rules and procedures that govern classified positions.
  • This year’s 3% ATB increase for classified employees was approved by the Colorado legislature in the 2021-22 Long Bill, and this does not apply to university staff, faculty or other CU employee populations.
Why is the 3% classified staff increase not based on performance?

The Colorado General Assembly, based on recommendations from the Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration (DPA), determines each year whether to provide increases to classified staff salaries and/or benefits, how much those increases should be, and how they should be implemented.  The final decision differs year to year based on a number of factors, including how classified employees’ salaries or benefits statewide are aligning with market factors.  Some years the state approves increases based on a performance matrix.  Other years the state approves flat, cost-of-living type increases, across-the-board regardless of performance.  This year, the state of Colorado approved a flat across-the-board increase, and CU is implementing the state of Colorado’s decision for its classified employees.

Where can I find the pay ranges for classified staff?

Updated are available from the Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration.