Staff Classification and Compensation Update: New Videos Provide Overview of Job Classification Architecture

Artwork by University of Arkansas

The U of A is making a significant, long-term investment in its employees with the Staff Classification and Compensation Project, to be implemented this fall. 

• The project will provide university staff with better awareness of career path options and more consistent, transparent and competitive pay structures. 
• In addition to the benefits for individual employees, the project will help the university attract, develop and retain talent as the U of A continues to work to enhance its status as an Employer of Choice. 
• Related adjustments are being made for faculty and graduate assistants in parallel with the staff project. 

New Job Classification Architecture 

A core component of the Staff Classification and Compensation Project is the creation of a job classification architecture, a framework that provides more consistency in the hierarchy of job positions, duties and definitions across the university.

Videos Provide Overview of How Jobs Will be Classified

• Quick Overview Video: Job Classification Architecture
  • Overview of the basic components and benefits of the new structure in under five minutes.
• Expanded Training Video with Additional Details and Examples
  • Includes detailed information, visual examples and career path samples. 

“We’re excited that more than 575 supervisors participated in trainings this July as we prepare for the implementation of the job classification architecture this fall,“ said Michelle Hargis Wolfe, chief people officer and associate vice chancellor for human resources. “Post-training surveys indicated improved knowledge and comfort with the project, and feedback from those trainings will help guide future communications about the project.” 

Additional details and information about the Staff Classification and Compensation Project will be shared on an ongoing basis this fall, including the launch of a comprehensive online resource later this month. 

“We encourage all staff members to learn more about the job classification architecture in the next few weeks, before market adjustment details - including information about compensation increases for some employees - become available in September,” Hargis Wolfe said. 

For questions about the Staff Classification and Compensation Project, contact Michelle Hargis Wolfe or Amy Ochoa. 

The university is concurrently implementing a Faculty Compensation Project and Graduate Assistant Benchmarking Project this fall. Additional details regarding those efforts will be announced later this month. For questions regarding those projects, please reach out to Jim Gigantino.