SUNY University-Wide Human Resources Manual
Orientation - Summer Session

last updated: Thursday, July 1, 2004

Eligibility for summer session appointment and compensation at a campus of the State University of New York of employees regularly employed at that campus, at another SUNY campus, or by The Research Foundation of the State University of New York is determined and governed by their regular employment status as follows:

Full-time, academic-year obligation:
Academic-year obligation employees are eligible for summer session service only during periods that do not overlap with their academic-year obligation. The chief administrative officer at a campus approves the academic calendar that establishes the date at the start of the academic year upon which faculty are expected to assume the duties of their positions and also the date at the end of the academic year after which the staff are free to undertake other commitments.

Part-time, academic-year obligation:
Part-time employees appointed to academic-year obligations are eligible for an additional overlapping appointment not to exceed full-time total obligation, or for any appointment during periods that do not overlap the academic-year obligation.

Full-time, calendar-year obligation:
Full-time employees appointed to calendar-year obligations are only eligible for summer session teaching appointments under the usual rules for extra service, i.e., total extra service compensation for a calendar-year, including summer session, may not exceed 20 percent of normal, full-time basic annual salary. [See Extra Service in the references section at the end of this document for more information.]

Part-time, calendar-year obligation:
Part-time employees appointed to calendar-year obligations are eligible for an additional overlapping appointment not to exceed a full-time total obligation.

Full-time, college-year obligation:
Full-time employees appointed to college-year obligations are eligible for summer session appointments only during periods that do not overlap with their college-year obligation. The college-year obligation for appointees to such obligations should be defined in the appointment letter and, where appropriate, defined and modified, when necessary, in the performance program. Such employees may be compensated for summer appointments during periods of non-obligation in accordance with the table of rates of compensation for full-time summer appointments of professional staff having academic-year obligations provided below.

Part-time, college-year obligation:
Part-time employees appointed to college-year obligations are eligible for an additional overlapping appointment not to exceed full-time total obligation, or for any appointment during periods that do not overlap the college-year obligation. The college-year obligation for appointees to such obligations should be defined in the appointment letter and, where appropriate, defined and modified, when necessary, in the performance program.

The following rates of compensation for full-time summer appointments of professional staff having an academic-year or college-year obligation cannot exceed the amount determined by applying the appropriate percentage from the following schedule to the employee's base annual salary.

Summer Session Compensation Table
Full-Time Employees with Academic-Year or College-Year Obligations

The above are maximum percentages for full-time appointments. Part-time summer session appointments are to be made on a pro rata basis. Compensation at lesser amounts may be offered in accordance with campus summer session appointment policies.

Within this limits, campuses are free to establish their own summer session polices and summer session compensation plans to include such factors as flat rates per credit hour or course without regard to rank, different flat rates per credit hour or course for the various ranks, minimum number of registrants required for an offered course to actually be taught, compensation for preparation time for faculty scheduled to teach courses that are cancelled, and other matters.

It is possible that for compelling reasons some exceptions to this position must be granted; if an exception is sought, the request, with full explanation, shall be sent directly to the Director of University-wide Human Resources. Unless and until authorization is given, no binding commitment may be made beyond the three-month level.

Summer Session Appointees from other State Payroll Agencies.

Employees of another New York State agency who are under obligation and in active status on that agency's payroll cannot be offered a summer session appointment at a SUNY campus without the approval of their agency and compensation to such approved appointees is subject to extra service compensation limitations. [See Dual Appointment and Extra Service in the references at the bottom of this section.]

Summer Session Appointees not otherwise employed by SUNY or New York State.
Campuses have full authority to decide the rate of compensation for summer session appointees who are not otherwise employed by the campus, SUNY, or New York State. However, it is highly recommended on the basis of fairness, staff morale, and fiscal prudence that campuses adhere to the same restriction when offering summer session appointments to outsiders except in unique circumstances such as when they are able to attract an academic star or international authority, for examples.

Reference(s):

Dual Appointment

Extra Service