Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.95
Liaison Susan Powers
Submission Date Feb. 12, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Clarkson University
PA-9: Employee Compensation

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.94 / 3.00 Susan Powers
Assoc. Dir. Sustainability
ISE
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Number of employees:
807

Number of staff and faculty covered by sustainable compensation standards, guidelines, or policies; and/or collective bargaining agreements:
807

Does the institution have employees of contractors working on-site as part of regular and ongoing campus operations?:
Yes

Number of employees of contractors working on campus:
120

Number of employees of contractors covered by sustainable compensation standards, guidelines, or policies and/or collective bargaining agreements:
102
+ Date Revised: April 19, 2016

A brief description of the sustainable compensation standards, guidelines, or policies; and/or collective bargaining agreements covering staff, faculty and/or employees of contractors:

Clarkson conducts an area wage survey to ensure employees are within 5% of the area median. If the group under review is more comparable to NY state, then NY state wages, minus NY City and Metro, are used. The University also internally benchmarks and reviews salary data to ensure there is no salary compression. When a job classification or a portion of a particular classification fall behind the average, the University makes an across the board salary adjustment for that group.
The hourly staff in the Facilities and Service Department are represented by a union and the collective bargaining agreements associated with that contract.
The staff of our food service is also covered by collective bargaining arrangement with their union.


Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 of this credit (assessing employee compensation)?:
Yes

Number of staff and faculty that receive sustainable compensation:
807

Number of employees of contractors that receive sustainable compensation:
102
+ Date Revised: April 19, 2016

A brief description of the standard(s) against which compensation was assessed:

Clarkson conducts an area wage survey to ensure employees are within 5% of the area median. If the group under review is more comparable to NY state, then NY state wages, minus NY City and Metro, are used. Salaries are also compared to the MIT living wage calculator. That tool identified $9.88 to be a living wage for a full time employee (2080 h/y). 98% of people on our payroll are paid above this locally relevant living wage.

+ Date Revised: April 19, 2016

A brief description of the compensation (wages and benefits) provided to the institution’s lowest paid regular, full-time employees:

minimum wage salary for the very lowest paid, with higher compensation typical per above description of salary analysis and adjustments. These employees receive 150% pay for overtime and a premium for non-standard hours (Second Shift - +$.40 per hour
Third Shift - +$.50 per hour)

Full benefits provided (see details at http://www.clarkson.edu/hr/employee/pdf/om_pdf/om_sect8.pdf). In addition to standard benefits, Clarkson also provides the ability of employees to take classes with no tuition charge and their dependents who are accepted into the University to enroll with a full tuition waiver. They are also eligible to participate in the national tuition exchange program for education expenses of their dependents


A brief description of the compensation (wages and benefits) provided to the institution’s lowest paid regular, part-time employees:

minimum wage salary for the very lowest paid, with higher compensation typical per above description of salary analysis and adjustments.
Employees in this category are eligible for all fringe benefits except group long-term total-disability coverage. The following fringe benefits will be prorated based on half time or three-quarter-time status: vacations and sick leave.


A brief description of the compensation (wages and benefits) provided to the institution’s lowest paid temporary (non-regular) staff:

Any employee hired on the basis of working less than seventeen and a half hours per week is classified as temporary. Additionally, an employee hired to work for a specified time period of less than one academic year is also classified as a temporary employee. All temporary employees are eligible for statutory benefits as defined by state and federal law. Temporary employees who work on the average of at least seventeen and a half hours per week and are initially hired for a minimum of three months will be eligible for medical and dental benefits and group life insurance. No other fringe benefits shall apply to temporary employees.


A brief description of the compensation (wages and benefits) provided to the institution’s lowest paid temporary (non-regular, adjunct or contingent) faculty:

Compensation ranges from $5,000 - $12,000 per class.
Part-time faculty are eligible for fringe benefits required by New York State and Federal Law. Additionally, part-time faculty who (a) have at least a three month appointment and (b) have a minimum teaching load of two courses per semester are eligible for coverage under Clarkson’s medical and dental plans for themselves and their dependents.


A brief description of the compensation (wages and benefits) provided to the institution’s lowest paid student employees (graduate and/or undergraduate, as applicable):

Federal work study options are available to eligible students. Other students are also hired at rates of minimum wage - ~$12/h depending on the specific job. Student workers are only eligible for statutory FB.


The local legal minimum hourly wage for regular employees:
8.75 US/Canadian $

Does the institution have an on-site child care facility, partner with a local facility, and/or provide subsidies or financial support to help meet the child care needs of faculty and staff?:
No

Does the institution offer a socially responsible investment option for retirement plans?:
Yes

The website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable compensation policies and practices is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Employee benefits documented in
http://www.clarkson.edu/hr/employee/pdf/om_pdf/om_sect8.pdf

Socially responsible retirement investing available through options in TIAA CREF services


Employee benefits documented in
http://www.clarkson.edu/hr/employee/pdf/om_pdf/om_sect8.pdf

Socially responsible retirement investing available through options in TIAA CREF services

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.