Black Hills State University
PA-9: Employee Compensation

All BHSU employees are covered under Article 55:09 of the Administrative Rules of South Dakota, including leaves of absence, holidays, personnel records, and overtime work and compensation; and the Board of Regents Policy Manual. Civil Service employees fall under Article 55:10 of the Administrative Rules of South Dakota, including rules pertaining to the selection process; probationary period; promotion, transfer, and demotion; disciplinary actions; nondisciplinary separations, and classification. Faculty are governed by the University Faculty Collective Bargaining Agreement. Career Service employees are represented at BHSU by a peer-elected CSA Council which meets with the University administration on a monthly basis. Civil Service employees are classified into pay grades in accordance with the positions' requisite responsibilities. The Bureau of Human Resources conducts a multi-state salary study periodically, and adjusts the pay ranges accordingly, which is most typically about 3% a year. Employees who have completed a probationary period and are below median job worth of their range may also receive an additional 3% movement to increase job worth. Faculty salaries are set by measuring against the Oklahoma State University Faculty Salary Study (our target is 80-90% of the average salary of the particular rank, and internal equity among others of similar discipline and rank. Non-faculty Exempt employee salaries are set by utilizing the average of three tables in the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR) salary studies -- average salary for positions in public institutions with comparable budgets, in public institutions with comparable enrollments, and public masters institutions. A point factor analysis on each position is also used to assign a position to an appropriate broad-band pay range. All employees in permanent positions of the State of South Dakota, who work 20 hours or more per week, at least six months of the year are eligible to participate in the South Dakota State Employee Health, Life, and Flexible Benefit Plans. There are currently no BHSU permanent employees who work 20 or more hours per week who earn less than $13.59 per hour (120% above the poverty guideline for a family of four) after adjusting for healthcare benefits.

Civil Service employees are classified into pay grades in accordance with the positions' requisite responsibilities. The Bureau of Human Resources conducts a multi-state salary study periodically, and adjusts the pay ranges accordingly, which is most typically about 3% a year. Faculty salaries are set by measuring against the Oklahoma State University Faculty Salary Study (our target is 80-90% of the average salary of the particular rank, and internal equity among others of similar discipline and rank. Non-faculty Exempt employees salaries are set by utilizing the average of three tables in the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR) salary studies -- average salary for positions in public institutions with comparable budgets, in public institutions with comparable enrollments, and public masters institutions. A point factor analysis on each position is also used to assign a position to an appropriate broad-band pay range.

Concerted effort by the institution and the State of South Dakota has been made in the past 7+ years to increase the wages for our lowest paid employees, which generally are the custodial workers and day care workers. New employees with no experience are now hired in at Step 2 of the salary range, which is $8.66/hour for child care workers and $9.91 for custodial workers. They are also eligible for a 5% increase after successfully completing their six-month probationary period. Custodial workers have received basic training in order for them to provide basic maintenance responsibilities and allowed them to be reclassified to a pay grade which is two pay grades higher than previously. In addition to wages, the lowest paid regular, full-time employees also receive health insurance (paid entirely by the institution for employee coverage, estimated at $7,370 per year); a 6% contribution to the SD Retirement System, a defined benefit retirement plan; $25,000 term life insurance plan; liability coverage; 3 or 4 weeks vacation per year, depending on the years of service; 112 hours of sick leave per year, with no accrual limit.

If an employee works at least 20 hours per week for six months or more in a regular position, they are eligible for the same benefits as the full time employees. The exception is that they accrue leave on a prorated basis. For employees who work fewer than 20 hours per week in a regular position, they receive prorated leave based on the hours they work.

A seasonal salary schedule, set by the State Bureau of Human Resources is utilized in compensating temporary staff. For non-skilled labor, it is approximately $8/hour. They do not currently receive benefits per SD state law.

Contingent faculty are paid based on their education level and the number of credits they teach. it is currently $1,076 per credit for those with masters degrees, and $1,317 per credit for those with terminal degrees. They do not currently receive benefits per SD state law.

Currently, students are paid in one of four pay grades, based on the level of responsibility of the position. The lowest paid are paid $7.25/hour. They generally receive an increase for each year they work in the department.