Employee Groups/ Classification

EMPLOYEE GROUPS & GOVERNING DOCS

P&A: Professional & Administrative (9xxx)

The academic professional and administrative (P&A) employee group includes multiple sub-groups of employees. This also includes adjunct Teaching Specialists (9754) & Lecturers (9753), and Post Doctoral employees.

Academic Professionals: Academic professionals parallel faculty in having essential preparation and specialized knowledge in an academic discipline or field and in exercising independent professional judgment. These individuals may be engaged in teaching, research, service, and a wide variety of other professional functions within the University.

Academic Administrative: Academic administrative positions are involved in administration, policy development, execution, and supervising activities of the University.

Professionals-in-Training: Professionals-in-training are involved in teaching and research. They hold internships, residencies, or are otherwise involved in further training in a disciplinary field. The most common professionals-in-training are Postdoctoral Associates.

• • P&A Appointment Policy

  • P&A Senate

  • Postdoc Appointment Policy

  • UMN Postdoc Association

Civil Service (7xxx, 8xxx)

Civil service employees perform work that supports academic and administrative functions.  The work includes business operations, information technology, student services, service/maintenance, purchasing and accounting.

• • Civil Service Employment Rules

  • Civil Service Senate

Labor Represented/ Bargaining Unit (1xxx, 4xxx, 6xxx)

LR and BU groups are University staff that have exclusive representation under law and are statutorily governed by a union group. At the University, these groups include AFSCME Clerical, AFSCME Technical, and Teamsters.

• • 1. • Bargaining Unit Contracts

Temp/Casual (0001, 0007)

• • 1. • Temporary or Casual non-academic appointments that are either (1) short-term, 67 workdays or less (temporary) in a calendar year or (2) characterized by schedules that are variable, intermittent, on-call and consistently 14 hours a week or less (casual).

Undergraduate Student Workers (2xxx)

Undergraduate student workers are students who are registered for classes and hold employment in administrative, technical, research and and undergraduate teaching positions. These positions are a form of financial support while students pursue their education.

• • Student Employment FAQs

  • Work Study

  • Hiring a Graduate Student into a Student Position

graduate assistants

• • Graduate Assistants (95xx)

  • Graduate assistants are student workers registered in a graduate or post-baccalaureate professional degree program at the University and employed in a position covered under this employee group. Graduate assistants may be engaged in teaching, research, or administrative functions under the direct supervision of faculty or staff.

  • Fellowships and training grant stipends are viewed as awards. Because no service to the University is required, fellowship and stipend recipients are NOT considered employees.

  • Graduate Employment Policy

Trainings

Graduate Assistant (GA) supervisors are required to complete the following training modules to ensure compliance and effective management of GAs within their campus, college, or unit. These trainings provide essential guidance on appointments, labor relations, health and safety, and disciplinary procedures. Supervisors should also collaborate with their HR teams for any questions or clarification. Please note that Part 6: Discipline and Discharge is a newly added module.

• Part 1: Supervising GAs in a Union Environment (17 minutes)

  • Part 1 Slide Deck 

This module introduces supervisors to key responsibilities when managing GAs in a unionized setting. 

• Part 2: Understanding GA Appointments (17 minutes)

  • Part 2 Slide Deck 

This session explains the different types of GA appointments, including teaching, research, and administrative roles.

• Part 3: Management, Union, and Other Rights (15 minutes)

  • Part 3 Slide Deck 

Supervisors will learn about their rights, the rights of GAs, and the role of the union in employment matters. 

• Part 4: Health and Safety (8 minutes)

  • Part 4 Slide Deck 

This training highlights workplace safety requirements for GAs.

• Part 6: Discipline and Discharge (19 minutes)

  • Part 6 Slide Deck 

This session outlines appropriate procedures for addressing performance concerns and disciplinary actions of a GA.

Please watch for the following training topics to be shared soon. 

• Part 5: Respectful and Inclusive Work Environment

• Part 7: Grievances and Arbitration

• Part 8: Leaves of Absence 

• Part 9: Compensation Components

Please reach out to Employee and Labor Relations with any questions. 

CLASSIFICATION RESOURCES

• • Appointment Types Chart

  • Job Classification Search (includes OHR job specs)

  • Job Family Structures

  • OHR Job Classification Page

  • Reclassification

  • UMN Academic Job Codes List