At Kent State University, our employees are our most valued resource. As a reminder from a recent Office of the President update, the Board of Trustees approved a 2% pay increase for all qualifying, non-represented staff (i.e., classified and unclassified employees). The 2% increase will take effect with the pay period that includes Oct. 1, 2024. More specific details on staff salary increases, including eligibility, are listed below.
Classified Non-represented Employees - Pay Increase Timetable
- The pay increase will take effect Sept. 22, 2024, the start of the pay period that includes Oct. 1, 2024. The increase will be reflected in the paycheck on Oct. 18, 2024.
- Employees hired on or after Sept. 22, 2024, will not be eligible for the increase.
- Employees hired between June 1, 2024, and Sept. 22, 2024, will be eligible for the pay increase upon completing their probationary period.
- To be eligible for a pay increase, classified employees must have a current satisfactory, signed performance evaluation on file in the Division of People, Culture and Belonging. Employees who receive an overall performance rating of “Needs to Improve” on their evaluation will not receive a pay increase until they reach the “Usually Meets” level of performance.
- Employees must be eligible for a paycheck on Oct. 18, 2024, to receive the pay increase.
Unclassified Non-represented Employees - Pay Increase Timetable
- Pay increases for unclassified employees paid on a semi-monthly schedule are effective Oct. 1, 2024, and will be reflected in the Oct. 15, 2024 paycheck.
- Pay increases for unclassified employees paid on a bi-weekly schedule are effective Sept 22, 2024, and will be reflected in the October 18, 2024 paycheck.
- Employees hired on or after Jun. 1, 2024, will not be eligible for the increase. Also, certain others may have been advised that they are ineligible.
- In general, employees who have received promotions will be eligible for the increase. The exception is specific to recently promoted individuals who may have been advised that they will not be eligible for an increase.
- To be eligible for a pay increase, unclassified employees must have a current satisfactory, signed performance evaluation on file in the Division of People, Culture and Belonging. Employees who receive an overall rating of “Unsatisfactory” on their performance evaluation will not receive a pay increase.
- Eligibility involving grant-funded and term positions will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the applicable department and the appointing authority through initiating and processing appropriate workflows. However, employees in these groups must have met the performance evaluation eligibility criteria described above.
- Employees paid on a semi-monthly schedule must be eligible for a paycheck on Oct.15, 2024, to receive the pay increase.
- Employees paid on a bi-weekly schedule must be eligible for a paycheck on Oct. 18, 2024, to receive the pay increase.
Note for staff in unclassified positions paid on a bi-weekly schedule: if the 2% annual pay increase brings the employee’s wage above the current Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) salary threshold of $43,888, the position will remain in an hourly pay status due to the forthcoming second increase to the FLSA threshold on Jan. 1, 2025, to $58,656.
Questions should be directed to the Compensation Office at 330-672-8668 or .