POLICY STATEMENT

The Uniform Classification and Compensation Act, (Arkansas Code Annotated § 21-5-201 et seq.), established a classification and pay system for certain state agencies and for non-instructional positions in institutions of higher education. This code and subsequent amendments established classifications of work and assigned pay grades to each classification. It also established procedures and controls to assure that the provisions of the code and its' amendments are complied with. The code also vested authority to monitor the application of these procedures in the Office of Personnel Management.

The following definitions shall apply to the following terms whenever and wherever used in these policy and procedure statements pertaining to classification and pay:

AGENCY: Any agency, department, board, commission or other entity of state government covered by Arkansas Code Annotated § 21-5-201 et seq.

INSTITUTION: All state supported institutions of higher education covered by Arkansas Code Annotated § 21-5-201 et seq.

ARKANSAS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL: The Committee on Uniform Classification and Compensation of the Arkansas Legislative Council reviews the following matters:

OCCUPATIONAL GROUP: A grouping generally embracing a horizontal band of classes and/or class series usually spanning several grades, with the same functional role related by broad similarity in the purpose of work. An example is a grouping of professional fiscal service occupations including accountants, auditors, fiscal officers and budget analysts. The group to which a class belongs will be indicated by the alpha prefix or suffix on the class code assigned to the class. (See first page of class code book for explanation of codes)

JOB FAMILY: A grouping of jobs within an occupational group of similar work, embracing a hierarchy of classes and/or class series. An example is the accounting services job family which includes accounting/finance managers and supervisors, accountants and accounting clerks.

CLASS: A group of positions sufficiently similar as to the types and levels of the duties to be performed and which requires the same knowledge, abilities, skills, education and experience and which can be paid equitably in the same pay grade.

CLASS SERIES: A grouping of two or more classes within a job family grouped on the basis of type of work and levels of difficulty. The grouping reflects different and ascending levels of responsibility within an identical or equivalent type of work, function or occupation.

A class series is constructed so that a qualified employee with the assignment of more complex and/or difficult work may progress from the first to the highest level of a structure of work. Examples are Social Service Worker I, II, III or Financial Examiner I and II.

CLASS SPECIFICATION: A written document which identifies a class by stating the general components and listing a class title, class code, working relationships, special job dimensions, examples of work, knowledges, abilities, skills and minimum qualifications. A class specification is not a description of a specific job.

JOB DESCRIPTION: A written document which identifies the duties and responsibilities of a specific position. A job description is not a class specification, but rather describes the tasks involved in a single position.

EXTRA HELP: A position designated specifically as “Extra Help” by the General Assembly to be used for payment of all salaries and compensation of part-time or temporary employees, as authorized by law, who are employed 1,000 hours per year or less.

POSITION: A specific office of employment within an agency or institution, whether filled or vacant, with duties or a set of tasks which require the services of one person.

CLASS UPGRADE: A legislative action to change the grade of a classification to a higher grade without changing the title, duties or responsibilities of the class.

CLASS DOWNGRADE: A legislative action to change the grade of a classification to a lower grade without changing the title, duties or responsibilities of the class.

LEGISLATIVELY ENACTED SALARY GRADE CHANGE: The enactment of legislation which has the effect of raising or lowering the salary grade level assigned to a specific classification.

PROMOTION: The change in duty assignment of an employee from a position in one classification to a position in another classification of a higher salary grade requiring higher qualifications, such as greater skill and longer experience and involving a higher level of responsibility. A promotion, for purposes of salary determination, shall be classified as “minor” if the change in duty assignment is to a classification of one (1) grade higher or “major” if to a classification of two (2) or more grades higher than the employee's grade at the time of promotion.

DEMOTION: The change in duty assignment of an employee from a position in one classification to a position in another classification of a lower salary grade requiring fewer qualifications such as lower skill requirements, less job related experience and a lower level of responsibility.

RECLASSIFICATION: The change in the assignment of a position from one classification title to another classification title of either a higher, lower or same grade when material and permanent changes in the duties and responsibilities of the position being recommended for reclassification have occurred.

INCREASE ELIGIBILITY DATE: (Also called “anniversary date”): The date an employee is eligible for incentive pay increase in salary.

PAY PERIOD: For purposes of rehire and transfer, two pay periods are composed of twenty consecutive working days for State agencies and institutions of higher education.

PAY LEVEL: A single rate of pay in a grade including the entrance, intermediate rates and the maximum rate of pay.

WORKING TITLE: A descriptive title, which may be assigned by the agency/institution that shows the duties and responsibilities performed in order to readily identify a position. A working title consists of a procedural description written by the agency/institution of the duties and responsibilities of a position.