LAUC Committee on Professional Governance

Comparisons with Other Academic Non-Senate Series
Compiled by Linda Kennedy (D)

The following non-Senate academic series were reviewed for relevance to the salary structure of the librarian series, and for specific language relating to distinguished steps.

The following series do not offer useful comparison data, or would be covered in a comparison with the Professor series:

Also excluded were the Assistant University Librarian, Associate University Librarian, Assistant Law Librarian, and Associate Law Librarian series, although it should be noted that a proposal to expand the salary range for AULs is currently being reviewed.

Academic non-Senate series fall into two groups according to the salary ranks and titles used: One salary model used by academic non-Senate series is numbered ranks and steps. This group includes Academic Administrators, Academic Coordinators, and Continuing Education Specialists.. The other model is the Assistant/Associate/Full structure, the model upon which the Librarian series is patterned. These include: Cooperative Extension Specialists, Professional Research (excluding post-graduate research titles), Specialists.

Observations:

1. Progression through the ranks:

Virtually all of the comparison series which have the Assistant/Associate/Full structure allow two years per step in the Assistant and Associate rank; some have 3 years per step after step 3 in the Associate ranks (librarians have1 year per step in the Assistant rank, and 2 years per step in all Associate steps).

Most series have 8 years in the Assistant ranks; The Assistant Librarian rank has six steps, although librarians normally are assistant librarians for only four years.

A librarian who advances at the normal rate would reach eligibility for promotion to Librarian in 12 years. In the Professor, Professional Research, and Cooperative Extension series, it would take approximately16 years.

Although it is difficult to make blanket statements about advancement through the various series, it appears that in each of the series with the Assistant/Associate/Full model, there is more time allowed before you reach the first step of indefinite duration in the top rank in the series. The estimates used here assume appointment at step one, with promotion and merit increase at each point of eligibility. Approximate periods:

2. Criteria for promotion to top step(s):

The Cooperative Extension Specialist has specific criteria in APM 334-18 b, quoted below. The top three steps are the steps reserved to reward "distinguished" performance. Besides "evidence of excellence and high merit" there should be great distinction, recognized nationally and internationally."

APM criteria (APM 340-10 d) and e) for the Continuing Education Specialist series indicate that appointment at steps above V are reserved for individuals or positions of extensive independent academic or administrative responsibility. The highest step, VII, requires a doctorate, competitive conditions, and the highest level of administrative responsibility.

The Professional Research series does not state specific criteria It is likely that the criteria for the professor series are used, but this has not been checked. The Specialist series has very limited application and sketchy APM information.

Of the series with numbered steps, some have steps which recognize distinguished achievement, or greater responsibility. The UC Davis APM Campus procedures for the Academic Administrator series indicate that ranks V-VII are reserved for individuals who have received a national reputation for excellence in their area of specialization. (UCD 370-10 b). In the Academic Coordinator series, rank is highly dependent on the size and scope of the unit for which the individual has responsibility.

3. Top salary

The Librarian series currently tops out at $73,560. All of the other academic non-Senate series examined had a significantly higher top salary, including series which required only a master’s degree, or did not specify a degree:

Detailed description of other academic non-Senate series:

I. Numbered ranks

Academic Administrator:
           Salary structure: Seven ranks, I-VII; fifteen steps within each title/rank. Uses the Academic Standard table. Merit increases normally occur biennially, and promotions between titles do not normally occur until the individual has served at least six years with the lower title, including at least two years at the top step for that title. There is no security of employment.

           Salary Range: $40,680-114,048 (fiscal year)

           Academic qualifications: Degree: appointees should have the terminal or top degree in his/her field, e.g., Ph.D., M.D., D.D.S., D.V.M., or the highest degree which is commonly expected for appointment in the activity.

           No security of employment

Academic Coordinator:
           Salary structure: Five ranks, I-V, fifteen steps within each title/rank. Uses the Academic Standard table. Merit increases occur every two years at Academic Coordinator I-II, and every three years at II-V. Promotions between titles do not normally occur until the individual has served at least six years with the lower title, including at least two years at the top step for that title. There is no security of employment.

           Salary range: 32,376-98,556 (fiscal year)

           Academic qualifications: MA or other appropriate degree may be required.

Continuing Education Specialist (Used in University Extension):
           Salary structure: Eight ranks, I-VIII. Four steps within each rank. Appointments or promotions above Rank V are ordinarily reserved for individuals or positions of extensive independent academic or administrative responsibility. Rank VIII is reserved for individuals with a doctorate, in certain competitive fields, with the highest levels of administrative responsibility. Normal periods of service are one year per step, indefinite periods for steps within the top two ranks.

           Salary range: $34,800-$97,900 (fiscal year)

           Academic qualifications: MA; some positions may require a Ph.D.

II. Assistant/Associate/Full model

Cooperative Extension Specialist:
           Academic Qualifications: Ph.D

Salary structure:
           Assistant Advisor Specialist:
                     6 steps (2 years at step) Overlaps two steps with Associate
                     $36,200-$47,500
                     Appointed for 2-year terms; service may not exceed 8 years

           Associate Advisor Specialist:
                     5 steps (2 years at Step 1-3; 3 years at Steps 4-5)
                     Overlaps one step with Advisor Specialist
                     $45,100-$56,700
                     Normal term of service is six years

          Advisor Specialist:
                     8 steps (3 years at steps 1-4; steps 5-8 are of unlimited duration)
                     $56,800-$104,600
                     Service at Step VI may be of indefinite duration.

          No security of employment
          Above scale salaries are possible.

          "Distinguished" Steps: The top three steps (Steps 6-8) of the Advisor Specialist rank are the distinguished steps and specific criteria is included in the APM:

APM 334-18 b. (3)
In interpreting these criteria for advancement to Step VI, reviewers should require evidence of excellence and high merit in performance in extending knowledge and information; in scholarship, especially applied scholarship, and/or creative achievement; in professional competence and activity; and in service. In addition, there should be great distinction, recognized nationally or internationally in the performance 1) of extending knowledge and information or 2) in scholarly and creative achievement.

Advancement from Step VI to Step VII and from Step VII to Step VIII usually will not occur after less than three years of service at the lower step and will only be granted on evidence of continuing achievement at the level required for advancement to Step VI.

Above scale salaries are also possible [see APM 334-18 b. (3) ]

Professional Research:

          Academic qualifications: Ph.D; research qualifications equivalent to professor of same rank.

          Assistant Research ___
                     6 steps (2 years at step)
                     Overlaps one step with Associate
                     $45,800-$59,400
                     5 steps (2 years at Step 1-3; 3 years at Steps 4-5)
                     Overlaps two steps with Full
                     $56,300-$71,100
          Research ___
                     8 steps (3 years at steps 1-4; steps 5-8 are of unlimited duration)
                     $66,600-$116,700

           "Distinguished" steps: No separate criteria is included in the APM to indicate whether steps 5-8 of Research are distinguished steps. Since the series is closely modeled on the Professorial series, it is likely that the criteria are similar.

          Specialist: a specialized series with research responsibilities, great ranges in the responsibilities of incumbents

           Academic qualifications: None stated in APM

          Junior Specialist
                     2 steps (1 year at step)
                     $29,112-$31,044
          Assistant Specialist
                     3 steps (2 years at step)
                     $33,864-$38,784
          Associate Specialist
                     4 steps (2 years at steps 1-3, step 4 of indefinite duration)
                     $42,660-$51,372
          Specialist
                     5 steps (3 years at steps 1-2, steps 3-5 of indefinite duration           
                    $55,152-$85,272
                     above-scale salaries are authorized

          Distinguished steps: No language in APM to indicate the specific criteria that might apply to steps 3-5 of Specialist