All University of Northern Iowa employees, including both teaching and nonteaching personnel, are employed by the Iowa State Board of Regents.  The Merit System and Professional & Scientific personnel comprise the nonteaching staff, and faculty comprise the teaching staff.

The Merit System includes both contract and noncontract employees.

• Contract employees - Blue Collar, Clerical, Security, Technical
• Noncontract employees - Supervisory (clerical and nonclerical), Confidential (clerical)

Merit contract employees are represented by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and function under provisions of Chapter 20 of the Code of Iowa.

Merit noncontract employees are represented by the Supervisory and Confidential Merit Personnel (UNI-SCMP) at the University level and by the Regents Interinstitutional Supervisory and Confidential Advisory Council (RISCAC) at the Board of Regents level.  For further information, see Supervisory/Confidential section of this handbook.  Both organizations function under provisions of Chapter 19A of the Code of Iowa.

There are numerous job classifications within the Merit System (see Merit System Classifications on following page).  Written descriptions for each classification as well as for each individual position are on file in the Human Resource Services office.

Salary is determined by pay grades and steps as listed on the Merit System Classifications page and pay matrices on the following page.

Benefits are determined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement for contract employees and by University policy for noncontract employees.  For further information on benefits, see Benefits section in this handbook.

Professional & Scientific (P&S) staff assist in the formation and administration of policy and aid in the execution of academic, student and administrative services as required for University operations.  The P&S Council represents them.

Faculty members have temporary, term, or tenure/probationary (tenure track) appointments.  Temporary and term appointments are made for a specific time period with a beginning and ending date.  Tenure/probationary (tenure track) appointments are appointments which are intended to be on-going; therefore, they have a beginning date but not an ending date.  Tenured faculty members are considered to be employees until their employment ends by resignation or retirement.  A tenure track appointment is considered to be probationary until tenure is granted.  United Faculty represents them.