"Active service" is a period of paid employment performing the duties of the position.

"Advanced starting rate" is a rate on the pay grade which is greater than the minimum rate of the pay grade for a specific class as provided for in the approved pay plan.

"Base pay" means the employee's rate of pay exclusive of extra pay such as lead worker pay, pay for shift differential, pay for special assignment, on-call pay, call back pay, or any other incentive premium pay.

"Certification" means the referral of qualified applicants from an eligibility register to a department for the purpose of making a selection in accordance with these rules.

"Class" means one or more positions, which are sufficiently similar in duties and responsibilities, that each position in the group can be given the same job title and require the same minimum qualifications as to education and experience, and that the same schedule of pay can be applied with equity to all positions in the class under the same or substantially the same employment conditions.

"Classification appeal" is the act of contesting the classification or reclassification of a position as determined by the merit system director after a review of the duties and responsibilities of the position.

"Classification review" is the process initiated by a permanent employee or department head requesting review of the classification of the employee's position.

"Classify" means to make the original assignment of a position to an appropriate class on the basis of the duties and responsibilities assigned and to be performed.

"Days" means working days unless designated otherwise.

"Demotion" means a change of an employee from a position in a given classification to a position in a classification having a lower pay grade. Demotion may be voluntary, involuntary, or result from a reclassification of a position. "Eligibility lists" are lists of the names of qualified applicants for a particular class.

"Eligibility register" consists of the names of the applicants from the appropriate eligibility list who are certified for a specific vacancy.

"Examination" is the screening of applicants.

"Grievance" is a dispute or complaint concerning the interpretation or application of merit system or institutional rules governing terms of employment and working conditions.

"Lateral transfer" means a change from a position in one class to a different position in the same class or another class in the same pay grade.

"Maximum rate" is the final value of the pay grade to which a classification is assigned. A "red-circled" rate is above the maximum.

"Minimum rate" is the minimum value of the pay grade to which a classification is assigned. It is less than an "advanced starting rate."

"Pay grade" or "grade" is the numerical designation on the pay schedule to which individual classes are assigned. "Permanent employee" is an employee who has completed the initial probationary period and thereby acquired permanent status in accordance with the rules of the system.

"Position" means a group of specific duties, tasks and responsibilities assigned to be performed by one employee. A position may be 12-month or less, full-time or part-time, temporary or permanent, occupied or vacant.

"Probationary period" is a six-month period to determine an employee's fitness for the position. A probationary period is required for an original appointment, reinstatement, reemployment to a class not previously held, promotion, voluntary demotion out of series or lateral transfer out of class.

"Promotion" means a change in status of a permanent classified employee from a position in a classification to another position in a classification having a higher pay grade.

"Reclassify" means to make a change in the classification of a position by raising it to a higher, reducing it to a lower, or moving it to another class of the same level on the basis of significant changes in the kind or difficulty of the tasks, duties, and responsibilities in such position, or because of an amendment to the classification plan, and officially assigning to that position the class title for such appropriate class.

"Reduction in force" is a layoff resulting from a shortage of funds or work, a material change in duties or organization or abolishment of one or more positions.

"Reemployment" is the reappointment of an employee from a reemployment register. An employee may be placed on a reemployment register as a result of (1) layoff or voluntary demotion in lieu of layoff, or (2) medically related disability leave and exhaustion of vacation and medically related disability leave credits, or (3) failure to pass a subsequent probationary period on a promotion, lateral transfer out of class, or demotion out of series.

"Reinstatement" is the reappointment of a permanent employee who has resigned in good standing.

"Resident director" is the person appointed by the head of each regents institution to administer the merit system rules at that institution.

"Step" is the value established through the collective bargaining process or by the merit system director for the purposes of applying the rules on compensation and the setting of advanced starting rates.

"Suspension" is an enforced leave of absence with or without pay for purposes of conducting an investigation or as a disciplinary measure.

3.15 to 3.24 Reserved.