Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

 

Position Classification and Review Process

Position Announcements  •  Benefits Information  •  Human Resources

The Review Process

The review process may be initiated by a supervisor, a staff person in concert with a supervisor, or by the Classification Manager in the Office of Human Resources and Labor Relations.

Supervisor/Employee-Initiated Reviews

If a supervisor or a staff person believes that substantial changes in the position responsibilities will become permanent, he/she obtains a Classification Review Request Form from the Classification Manager to document the changes.

The staff person completes the first section of the form.

The immediate supervisor reviews and verifies the information to ensure the duties listed are, in fact, duties assigned to that position and it is an appropriate assignment of those duties.

The supervisor signs the form and forwards it to the next level of supervision for review and signature. The director or dean reviews the information submitted and writes a brief explanation as to why new duties were assigned. If the director or dean believes that the work assignment is appropriate and that the additional duties substantially change the position, the request is approved and forwarded to the appropriate vice president. If the director or dean disagrees with or questions the work assignment and/or the impact of such changes, a discussion is scheduled to resolve the issue with the supervisor. The staff member should be informed of the rationale if the request is not forwarded to the appropriate vice president.

If the vice president believes that the work assignment is appropriate and that the additional duties substantially change the position, the request is approved and forwarded to the Classification Manager. If the vice president disapproves the request for a review, a discussion is scheduled to resolve the issue.

The form is logged and date-stamped upon receipt in the Human Resources Office. Notice of receipt is forwarded to the dean or director, supervisor, and staff member. The date of receipt becomes “the effective date” if the position is allocated to a different classification as a result of the review.

Job Descriptions approved for review by the Vice President or Provost will be forwarded to the Classification Manager. During an initial review of the position, the Classification Manager will make a preliminary grade level determination. If it appears an upward reclassification may result, the Classification Manager will then discuss the potential impact of the tentative classification with the Budget Office. The Budget Office will provide the approximate value of the reclassification, immediate and future. Additionally, the Budget Office will indicate the impact of the requested classification, on the department's current fiscal year budget.

The Classification Manager will provide the respective Vice President or Provost with the preliminary classification findings and potential budget implications.

The Vice President or Provost will then determine whether the reclassification request should be processed. The Provost or Vice President may direct that the work of the position, particularly work which may warrant upward reclassification, be redistributed within the department. The work of the position involved and of other positions may be adjusted in order to accommodate the organizational needs efficiently without incurring additional salary expenses. The Vice President or Provost may direct the Classification Manager to assist the manager in re-describing and realigning the duties of staff in the affected department.

Should the Provost or Vice President agree with the job description and preliminary classification determination, he/she will notify the Classification Manager to proceed with the formal classification of the position and subsequent personnel actions if any are required.

Office of Human Resources-Initiated Reviews

A classification review may also be triggered by the Position Accuracy Certification process. This process is a part of the annual performance evaluation. The Position Accuracy Certification Form is used to verify the accuracy of the current position/job description, or to document any temporary or permanent changes in the description. This form is returned to the Office of Human Resources by a supervisor with the annual evaluation. If the Classification Manager believes a review is necessary based on the information submitted, a Classification Review Request Form is forwarded to the supervisor by the Office of Human Resources to begin the process.

 

Issued by the Office of Human Resources and Labor Relations, Bloomsburg University

June 1994, Revised February 2002