The University follows a discipline-specific salary schedule in preparing annual contracts. Salary for each rank and step in each discipline is determined annually by the Vice President for Academic Affairs on authorization of the President and in recognition of criteria recommended by the Faculty Affairs committee in accordance with budget guidelines recommended by the President and approved by the Board of Trustees.

Steps at rank are determined by years at rank, educational preparation, and fulfillment of an approved Professional Development Plan. Steps may be skipped only if the educational criteria for such steps have been fully satisfied. New faculty will be appointed to appropriate ranks and steps according to the following system and Section 1.4 of this Handbook.

Step 1
Initial placement upon hiring with a master's degree.

Step 2
Two years at rank with master's plus 15 credits and dean's recommendation referencing annual PDPs.

Step 3
Four years at rank with master's plus 30 credits and dean's recommendation referencing annual PDPs.

Step 1
Initial placement upon hiring or promotion.

Step 2

1. Ph. D. or equivalent with one year at rank and dean's recommendation referencing annual PDPs; or
2. A.B.D. with two years at rank and dean's recommendation referencing annual PDPs; or
3. Master's plus 30 credits, three years at rank, and dean's recommendation referencing annual PDPs.

Step 3

1. Ph. D. or equivalent with three years at rank and dean's recommendation referencing annual PDPs; or
2. A.B.D. with four years at rank and dean's recommendation referencing annual PDPs; or
3. Master's plus 45 credits, five years at rank, and dean's recommendation referencing annual PDPs.

Step 4

1. Ph. D. or equivalent with four years at rank and dean's recommendation referencing annual PDPs, or
2. A.B.D. with five years at rank and dean's recommendation referencing annual PDPs, or
3. Master's plus 45 credits, six years at rank, and dean's recommendation referencing annual PDPs.

Step 1
Initial placement upon hiring or promotion.

Step 2

1. Ph. D. or equivalent with one year at rank and dean's recommendation referencing annual PDPs; or
2. A.B.D. with two years at rank and dean's recommendation referencing annual PDPs; or
3. Master's plus 45 credits with three years at rank and dean's recommendation referencing annual PDPs.

Step 3

1. Ph. D. or equivalent with three years at rank and dean's recommendation referencing annual PDPs; or
2. A.B.D. with four years at rank and dean's recommendation referencing annual PDPs; or
3. Master's plus 45 credits with five years at rank and dean's recommendation referencing annual PDPs.

Step 4

1. Ph. D. or equivalent with four years at rank and dean's recommendation referencing annual PDPs; or
2. A.B.D. with five years at rank, dean's recommendation referencing annual PDPs, and recommendation of school or department faculty at this step or above; or
3. Master's plus 45 credits, six years at rank, dean's recommendation referencing annual PDPs, and recommendation of school or department faculty at this step or above.

Step 1
Initial placement upon hiring or promotion.

Step 2
Ph. D. or equivalent with two years at rank and dean's recommendation referencing annual PDPs.

Step 3
Ph. D. or equivalent, four years at rank, dean's recommendation referencing annual PDPs, and recommendation of school or department faculty at this step or above and of school rank and tenure committee.

Step 4
Ph. D. or equivalent, seven years at rank, dean's recommendation referencing annual PDPs, and recommendation of school or department faculty at this step and of school rank and tenure committee.

In consultation with the school dean, the Vice President for Academic Affairs recommends individual contract placement on the schedule according to the rank, step and discipline of the individual faculty member.

Paychecks are available on the first University business day of each month; if the first of the month falls on Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday, paychecks are distributed on the following business day.

The normal distribution of contracted salary is in 12 equal payments for a nine-month contract. Those electing 10 equal payments may do so by making their request on the contract form.

Deductions are automatically taken from each paycheck for federal income tax, Medicare tax, Social Security, State Industrial Insurance, retirement plan(s), and premiums for such group insurance as the employee has selected. Other deductions may be arranged with the Payroll office for such items as payments to the Credit Union, pledges to United Way or to Seattle Pacific University, and others.

Notifications regarding garnishment of wages will be processed pursuant to state law. If garnishments on three or more separate debts are served on the University with respect to any employee within a 12-month period, disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment may be taken against that employee.