January 2022 Compensation FAQ

The compensation plan includes a 3% base-building salary increase and a one-time payment equal to 1% of an employee’s annual salary for eligible faculty and university staff (non-classified), except for those with a performance rating of 2 or below on their most recent performance review. The compensation plan also includes a 3% increase for lecturers, along with additional investment in graduate student support.

This action is a direct reflection of your commitment to CU Denver and your outstanding efforts. During this extraordinary time, you have shown up every day to educate and support our students, conduct research, and meet the needs of our community.

The 2021-22 fiscal year will be the first year time the campus transitions to a new evaluation cycle. Going forward, performance cycles will follow the fiscal year (ending June 30), followed by merit pool salary increases effective Jan. 1, subject to Board of Regents approval. This marks a transition year for university staff and faculty performance cycles, meaning CU Denver will have an 18-month evaluation cycle running from Jan. 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022.

No. Classified staff evaluation cycles are set by the state of Colorado and the evaluation year will remain from April 1 to March 31.

This change will allow decisions on merit pool increases to be made once fall enrollment census has occurred and the campus has a more accurate picture of its revenue outlook for the year.

“Non-base building” means the pay increase is made in a one-time lump sum and does not add to the employee’s continuing regular salary rate. An increase that raises an employee’s continuing/ongoing salary is considered a “base-pay” increase.

To help cover these additional expenses, we will use one-time funds from the Denver campus and financial support from the CU System office.

Eligible employees for the 1% one-time non-base building and 3% base-building compensation payment include regular faculty and university staff in Denver schools, colleges, academic and student affairs (ASA) and CU Denver specific administration who also meet the conditions below.

• Must have received a “meeting expectations” or higher performance rating during the 2020 performance management cycle, if no rating default to a “meeting expectations.” 
• Hired date of September 1, 2021 or earlier
• For base-building only: No out of cycle increase after September 1, 2021
• Must have an active appointment as of January 1, 2022

The following employees who meet the above conditions are eligible:

• Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty
• Sr. Instructors and Instructors 
• Clinical Teaching Track Faculty
• Research Associate series (PRA, Senior PRA, Research Associate, Senior Research Associate)
• Post Docs
• Scholars-in-Residence
• Research Faculty (not including temporary)
• University Staff (not including temporary)

As approved by the state of Colorado legislature, classified staff employees received a 3% across-the-board base-building merit increase effective July 1, 2021 and are not on the January cycle for the 3% base building or 1% one-time payment.

Employees with the following titles are not eligible:

• Part-time faculty (Adjunct, Lecturer, etc.)
• Student workers
• Student faculty
• Working Retirees
• Visiting Faculty
• Temporary employees (classified, university staff and research), Summer research, teaching, administrative, or additional appointments are not included. Only primary appointments will be considered.

Lecturers and graduate part time instructors who also meet the conditions below are eligible for the 3% one-time payment.

• have an active appointment on April 30, 2022,
• hired into lecturer job code 1419 or graduate part time instructor job code 1503.
• Are the listed instructor of record.

Yes, as long as you meet all of the other eligibility conditions.

For consolidated employees, Central Services Administration (CSA) employees will follow the CU Anschutz process while Academic Services Administration (ASA) employees will follow the CU Denver process.

The 3% base-building salary increase will be applied Jan. 1, 2022, meaning you will start to see that ongoing increase in your Jan. 31 paycheck. The 1% one-time payment will be made on Jan. 31, 2022 paychecks. The 3% one-time payment for eligible lecturers and graduate part time instructors will be made on May 31, 2022 paychecks.

The 3% base building and 1% one-time payment increase will follow the same taxes and benefits related to your regular monthly paycheck. Taxes and benefits will automatically be deducted from the payment and a breakdown can be viewed in “Paychecks” in MyCUInfo.

Yes, eligible employees will receive a letter detailing their base building and non-base building one-time payment amounts.