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MSUE Administrative Handbook: Human Resources
  
SUBJECT: POSTING OF ACADEMIC POSITIONS
 
POLICY: All vacant or newly established academic positions are to be posted via a formal written vacancy announcement before being filled.
 
APPLIES TO: MSUE Provost-appointed academic staff.
 
PROVISIONS/RESTRICTIONS:
 
  1. This posting requirement is in keeping with the organization’s commitment to assure equal employment opportunity, provides a means for interested individuals to be aware of position openings, fosters an understanding that interested individuals have an equal opportunity to apply and be considered for open positions and assists the organization in documenting recruitment activities associated with employment decisions.

  2. It is recognized that there may be certain instances where the requirement to post all position openings serves little useful purpose and/or is not practical. Exceptions to this policy are as follows:

    1. Positions expected to last no longer than 90 days.
    2. At-large positions established under the MSUE Minority Recruitment and Placement Program.
    3. Position placements for staff with continuing employment status returning from study and sick leaves when previous positions are not held.
    4. Position placements for staff with continuing employment whose current position has been eliminated.
    5. Positions filled on an "acting" basis.
    6. At the discretion of the Director of Extension when such action is deemed in the best interests of the MSU Extension.

  3. Position placements mentioned in Items 2.3 and 2.4 are subject to the following conditions:

    1. The individual must be minimally qualified for the position in which placement occurs.
    2. The placement is mutually agreeable between Extension Administration and the individual staff member.
    3. The individual will have four months from the ending date of the leave/elimination of a position to be placed. During the time before placement, the individual will be carried in an agent-at-large status.
    4. The placement position will be as similar as practicable to the individual’s vacated position.
    5. Generally, an individual moving to a placement position will not have his/her pay reduced. However, there may be situations where this consideration cannot be made. For example, where Michigan Extension faces financial duress and positions are eliminated, the salary of an individual moving to a placement position may be reduced as part of a broad-scale dollar saving effort affecting staff salaries in general. Nonetheless, an individual moving to a placement position would not be singled out in this regard. Also, if an individual moves from an administrative to a non-administrative placement position and had received an administrative increment in taking the original position, he/she loses the administrative increment in pay.
    6. This policy does not guarantee a position for an individual in the circumstances above. MSU Extension’s obligation is to make a good faith effort at placing such an individual according to its Continuing Employment Policy.

  4. The ANR Human Resources Office will contact individuals in the circumstances of Items 2.3 and 2.4 approximately one month prior to the expiration of the leave/position regarding available jobs. Ensuing contacts will be made as additional positions become available.
  5. If more than one individual is involved in the circumstances of Items 2.3 and 2.4, the person with continuing employment for the longest period of time will be allowed first consideration of available positions.
  6. Adherence to this policy is monitored by the ANR Human Resources Services Office. Activities associated with position postings and exceptions will be sufficiently documented and maintained for reference purposes.
 
DATE:    November 1, 1997