UAF Staff Resources

Alaska Range in a purple sunset
Alaska Range

Staff Resources and Quick Links to Employment Information

The following information is provided to you by UAF Human Resources.  Although this information can be found in other locations on the UAF web site, the UA Statewide web site and other government sites, it is provided to you here to make it easier on you to find things.  This is a consolidation of the "key subjects for employees" as identified by the UAF Staff Council.  In most cases, the information here was established by the University of Alaska Board of Regents (BoR) policy and regulations.  In some cases, the State of Alaska or Campus regulations are the authority cited.  In all cases, if you don't understand the meaning of a particular guideline or you have a special circumstance not mentioned, please call UAF HR at (907) 474-7700 so that we may help you.

General Employment Policies

  • Employment At Will  is a term that has meaning and is important to you as an employee of Alaska.  For an explanation of what this means to you, please follow this link and go to  P04.01.050 and R04.01.050.
  • An Equal Employment Opportunity Workplace is part of our culture here at UAF.  If you would like to know more about this and what it means to you, please follow this link to our BoR policy and regulations (Go to Paragraph P04.02.022).  
  • Commitment to Cultural Diversity is ingrained in every facet of UAF.  Our office of Multicultural Affairs and Diversity welcomes your input to always improve our program.  They can be reached at (907) 474-7300.
  • Harassment is Prohibited and unacceptable. For a description of harassing behaviors and what you can do about them, please follow this link. 
  • Drug-Free Workplace is our only standard.  We have a strict policy to keep illegal drugs out of the campus environment.  Please follow this link and scroll to paragraph P04.02.040 and R04.02.040.  Our University Police department helps us to maintain that standard as well as each and every employee.  If you suspect that illegal drugs are present or in use at UAF, please call the UAF Police at (907) 474-7721.
  • UAF Layoff Policies  Chancellor Roger's communication on the layoff process.

Getting Started

Benefits of Working at the University Competitive compensation combined with excellent health care and retirement benefits make the University of Alaska one of the most desirable places to work in Alaska. Employees can take advantage of the tuition waiver program and take classes toward a degree or for professional enrichment. Check out your benefits below and in the Benefits Handbook listed above.
  • Retirement Plan Before July 1, 2006, all regular full-time and part-time faculty and staff were eligible for the UA Pension Plan.  Employees initially hired on or after July 1, 2006 must select the Optional Retirement Plan to be eligible for the UA Pension Plan or employees may choose the state sponsored PERS/TERS without the UA Pension Plan.  To learn more choose this link to the University of Alaska retirement programs.
  • Insurance  Financial protection for your survivors in the event of your death is important for your family's welfare.  The University of Alaska provides the opportunity for income protection through basic and supplemental life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment protection.
  • Educational Benefit All regular and full-time employees and their families may take advantage of the university's tuition waiver program to work toward a degree or improve their job skills.
  • Voluntary Tax-Deferred Annuity Plans  All employees may make contributions to a tax-deferred annuity, which is a supplemental retirement account.
  • Holidays The University of Alaska observes 12 Holidays as shown in this link.

Leave and Time Off  The University has many provisions for absences from work.  Some of these absences could occur while in paid status.  The list below are the different types of leaves and absences.  If you have any questions interpreting these statuses, please call HR at 474-7700.

Other services provided to employees of the University of Alaska include safety information/support, access to our Polar Express Card, various types of recognitions/awards, an Employee Assistance Program and the ability to establish a tax friendly Flexible Spending Account.  We invite you to take advantage of these programs:

  • Safety Our safety office is here to keep the University environment free of hazards to all employees, students and visitors.  They are a source of free safety training and can help to ensure that you have adequate safety equipment to perform your function.
  • Disability Services information can be found at this link.
  • On-the-Job Injuries and Illnesses must be reported.  The next 2 links should be used when identifying an incident or a hazard:
  • Polar Express Card  Our Polar Express Card is your permanent University identification card.  It can also be used to purchase items both on campus and off campus with many local food businesses.
  • Staff Parking All employees, students and visitors must obtain a parking pass to park on University property.  This link will help you to obtain a proper pass.
  • Shuttle and taxi services  The University provides free transportation from one University location to another.  In addition, departments may rent vehicles and equipment from the motor pool.  Schedules, routes and numbers to call are all shown at this link.
  • Employee Recognition and Service Awards  To provide for our most important resource, people, the university offers recognition and awards as outlined in this link.
  • Employee Assistance Program  The University offers an Employee Assistance Program to all benefits eligible faculty and staff and their dependents, as well as COBRA participants.  The program is a counseling service designed to help employees and their eligible family members resolve personal problems before they become overwhelming.
  • Flexible Spending Account A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) can help you pay for the high cost of health care and day care.  These IRS-approved accounts allow you to set aside a portion of your income before paying taxes.  Then as you incur eligible expenses, you request tax free withdrawals from the account to reimburse yourself.
Pay Policies and Practices can get complicated at the University of Alaska because of our many categories of employees, types of pay, types of retirement plans, and many, many more variables that affect pay.  The following links are provided to help you with your questions and provide you with a brief understanding of the complexity of University Pay.  Please feel free to call our Payroll Experts at (907) 474-7700 if there is anything about your pay that you do not understand:
  • Payroll Schedules  Salary schedules are established for staff positions at the University.  Each schedule is guided by regulations covering salary placement on initial appointment and salary movement.  Salaries for executives are based on the position's duties and responsibilities, incumbent education and experience, and prevailing market conditions - the salary is determined at the time of hire.
  • Overtime  Some employment categories are eligible for overtime pay.  To determine if you are eligible for overtime, please follow this link.
  • Compensatory Time  The University has limited the use of compensatory time.  To see the regulation governing compensatory time please follow this link and see paragraph R04.05.020D.
  • Shift Differential If you work a shift other than day shift, you may be eligible for differential pay.  Please follow this link and see paragraph R04.05.070 for eligibility.
  • Breaks and Rest Periods  See FAQ #10.  Unless you are under the age of 17, there is no requirement in Alaska to provide breaks.  Break policies are normally established by each department.  Please consult your supervisor for information on breaks and rest periods.
  • Direct Deposit of Pay Checks  The university offers the convenience of direct deposit for your pay check.  Follow this link to answer any questions about direct deposit.
  • Changes In An Employee's Personal Situation  The link here will take you to all the HR Forms needed when an employee's personal situation changes.  If you can not find the form that fits your status change or you have questions about a form listed, please call UAF HR at 474-7700.
  • Compensation and Classification Info  The university has an extensive system of compensation and employment classification.  This link will help to explain many aspects of our system.
  • Indebtedness and Collection This link describes your rights with indebtedness and collections. See FAQ # 15.
General Policies and good information to know:
  • Rights to Terminate Employment  At-will employment is an employment relationship that either the employee or the university may terminate at any time for any reason or no reason with such notice as may be required by regents' policy and university regulations.
  • Introductory Period   Newly hired and promoted regular exempt and nonexempt staff, with the exception of officers of the university and senior administrators and faculty, will serve a six month probationaryperiod.  See paragraph R04.07.020.
  • Internal Promotional Opportunities  Promotional opportunities are described at this link. See paragraph R04.05.043B.
  • Voluntary and Involuntary Demotions  At times, demotions may be necessary both voluntary and involuntary. See paragraph R04.05.043 B.7 for an explanation of these demotions.
  • Workforce Reorganization
    • #1 - 04.09 Financial Exigency.  If the regents determine that a condition of financial exigency exists, either in the university generally or in a major administrative unit or an academic or other unit of a major administrative unit, then the layoff or termination of tenured faculty, non-tenured faculty and other employees before the end of their employment term will be handled in accordance with the financial exigency policy.
    • #2 - 04.07.110 Conditions Governing Benefits and Privileges while in Layoff Status are outlined at this link. See paragraph R04.07.110E.
  • Working with Relatives (Nepotism)  The university does not allow conditions where a relative is able to influence another relatives employment.  See paragraph P04.10.040 for a definition of nepotism and what conditions constitute a conflict of interest.
  • Smoking  The University enforces a no smoking policy for indoor public areas. Please see paragraph P05.12.092 for smoking restrictions and authorizations.
  • Property Office  The mission of the UAF Property Office is to monitor all purchased property to ensure University compliance with applicable State and Federal funding regulations.  UAF Property offers guidance and advice prior to purchases, maintains inventory accounting, and is committed to provide re-utilization of surplus equipment and supplies to the University community.
  • Campus Police Our University Police Department's mission is to provide a safe and secure environment for the staff, faculty, students and visitors to UAF.  This is a 24 hour a day, seven day a week service that includes an Emergency Communication Center providing 911 response or non-emergency response at (907) 474-7721.
  • Campus Violence The Clery act is a Federal requirement to divulge campus criminal statistic to the campus community.  This link provides some information about the Clery Act and provides UAF criminal statistics as defined by the act.
  • Fire Prevention The University of Alaska Fire Department serves the University of Alaska Fairbanks Campus, but it also serves off-campus for the Fairbanks North Star Borough.  In addition to fighting fires and emergency medical services, the department provides prevention,  public education and fire safety inspection services.
  • Use of On-Line Resources and Information Resources is described in the 2 links below:
  • Privacy of Records  The University of Alaska is a state run organization making many records open to the public.  For a list of items in your personnel file that are releasable to the public and those items protected from release, follow this link to BoR Policy and Regulations.  See paragraphs P04.01.060 and R04.01.060
  • Protection of Intellectual Property  Inventions, patents, copyright, trademarks and other intellectual properties are administered by the president of the university and is described at this link.  See paragraph R10.07.050.
  • Visitors  If you are a visitor or you have visitors, an on-line visitors guide is availbale at this link.
  • Telephone Services  If you need assistance with your phone, voicemail or data ports, please follow this link to get help and information.
  • Solicitation and Contract Services The University follows strict protocols in purchasing goods and services from outside agencies.  For smaller purchases a Pro-Card system is in place.  For questions on contract services or Pro-Card usage, please follow this link.
Expectations of Employees
  • Freedom of Speech  An environment of free and honest inquiry is essential to the functioning and the mission of the University.  As well, employees can expect an environment free of discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, veteran status, physical or mental disability, marital status, pregnancy or parenthood.
  • Resolution of Dispute In the event that an employee has a dispute or grievance with the University, provisions are provided in this link to guide employees in the dispute resolution process.
  • Performance Reviews  Each employee will be evaluated annually.  Performance evaluations will include discussions of the position duties, responsibilities and purpose as defined by the supervisor, performance and conduct, review of progress, and as appropriate, planning for more effective performance.  See paragraph P04.07.030 and R04.07.030.
  • Standards of Behavior
    • Information Protection Standards  User conduct is defined at P02.07.050 and R02.07.050. 
    • Ethics & Conduct  Ethical behavior and conduct are defined at this link.
    • Work Environment Standards  The University is an equal opportunity employer that protects employees from discrimination and harassment. This link provides some definition to university work environment standards.
Leaving the University
  • Retirement
    • Eligibility  There is no mandatory retirement age at the University of Alaska.  Retirement is dependent upon the type of retirement program you are enrolled in.  See paragraph P04.07.090 and R04.07.090 for a description of retirement from the university.
    • Retirement Plans  For specific information on each type of retirement plan, please visit this link.
    • Statewide Guide  This link provides a guide to university retirement programs.
  • Resignation
    • Resignation Standards  An employee wishing to resign generally should file a written resignation.  Job abandonment will normally be presumed to be a resignation.  See R04.07.080 for more specific resignation instructions.
  • Continuation of Benefits
    • Benefits while Absent  Page 65 of this manual describes how benefits may continue during absences.
    • COBRA  Under federal labor laws you are allowed to continue your health care coverage even after your departure from the University.  Follow this link to to get specifics on continued coverage by COBRA.
  • Exit Interviews  The employee is responsible for arranging the exit interview appointment prior to his/her termination date.  See paragraph R04.07.120 for exit interview specifics.

Banner Resources - Some staff employees will need to use Banner in the execution of their duties.  Banner is a Sungard system that supports the University with finance, students, human resources and other areas of data collection and reporting.  If you are unaware of your need to use Banner, please contact your supervisor.  For those employees that know they will be utilizing Banner, the following resources have been compiled here to make your search for Banner information easier.

  • For UAF, there are three key individuals to assist you in gaining banner access:  For Banner HR, Becky Conner, rpconner@alaska.edu, is the security coordinator. For Banner Finance, Lynn Wrightsman, lawrightsman@alaska.edu, is the security coordinator.  For Banner Students, Colleen Abrams, clabrams@alaska.edu, is the security coordinator.
  • Before gaining access to Banner, employees need to fill out a request form and get it approved through proper channels indicated on the form.
  • Banner training is also required prior to access to the system.  To set up training, please contact the security coordinator listed above of the Banner module you are seeking access to.  For training aids to the HR Module of Banner, please visit the HR Banner Procedures
  • Frequently asked Banner questions and answers can be found at FAQ.   
  • OIT also has assistance resources at Banner Support. 

News and Emergency Information: The following links will lead you to news, events and alert notices:

Other Good Information Sources: 

  • To join organizations committed to making employment at UAF and UA more beneficial, please visit these links to Governance or Staff Council.  
  • If you are producing documents for the University here are some useful Graphic Standards to know.

We would like your feedback about the information on this page and we would also like to know if you want to see other topics covered here.  Please send your comments to: UAF-Personnel@alaska.edu. Thank you!

Barbara Gabel – 28 July 2011, Thursday 12:05