Classification & Compensation
Merit Salary Increases
Merit increases are performance-based salary increases that are typically awarded at the end of the annual performance management process. The total increase received is based on the final performance rating, and therefore varies from person to person. Merit is awarded whenever the university can appropriately do so, depending on budget availability.
The merit process is a collaborative effort involving many individuals throughout the university. Staff merit thresholds were developed in close partnership between Business Affairs and vice presidents, and college deans worked together with Academic Affairs to set college-specific thresholds for faculty. Faculty Senate and Staff Senate chairs played a significant role in the merit initiative, providing valuable support and contributing to key campus communications.
People Excellence is available to answer questions on the merit process, eligibility criteria and percentages described below. Please contact your HR Business Partner for more information.
Fiscal Year 2020-2021
For fiscal year 2020-2021, UTSA will award a merit increase of up to 4% to eligible faculty and staff as part of our strategic compensation plan. Merit is a permanent increase to your annual base salary. Increases go into effect on January 1, 2022 and will appear on February 1 paychecks.
Merit Eligibility Criteria
Faculty and staff who meet the following criteria may be eligible for a merit increase.
- Completed six months continuous service prior to merit award date (hired on or before July 1, 2021).
-
Are in a benefits-eligible position and meet the full-time equivalent (FTE) threshold:
- Faculty: 0.75% FTE or higher
- Staff: 0.50% FTE or higher
- Have a current performance evaluation on file for the review period ending on August 31, 2021.
- Completed required UTSA Standards of Conduct training.
- Have not been on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) during the performance evaluation review period.
Merit calculation is based on the 7/1/21 salary for staff and 9/1/21 salary for faculty.
Staff merit thresholds were developed in close collaboration between Business Affairs and vice presidents, using overall annual performance evaluation ratings and categories. Increases are based on salaries as they appeared on July 1, 2021 and will be awarded according to the scale below.
| Staff Rating | ePerformance Overall Score | Final Overall Score | Merit % |
|---|---|---|---|
Faculty Annual Review Process
The review period was Jan. 1, 2020, to Aug. 31, 2021. Each faculty member submits their materials for review, and a recommendation is provided to the Department Chair by the Department Review Committee. The Chair reviews and meets with the faculty to discuss their evaluation and workload, and then submits to the Dean for final review. The overall score is calculated from multiplying the rating from teaching, research, service, and administration by the workload percentage, which then provides the overall rating category.
Each college has their own annual review standards and workload guidelines that they applied to the review process, which were the basis of college-specific merit thresholds. The college deans and Academic Affairs worked collaboratively to set college-specific thresholds using annual review overall rating scores and evaluation categories. The ‘Exceeds Expectations’ performance category was parsed into three groups according to the differing score thresholds to align faculty and staff percentages as much as possible across the top two categories.
Faculty merit increases are based on salaries as they appeared on September 1, 2021.
Alvarez College of Business
| Faculty Rating | Overall Score | Merit % |
|---|---|---|
Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design
| Faculty Rating | Overall Score | Merit % |
|---|---|---|
College of Education and Human Development
| Faculty Rating | Overall Score | Merit % |
|---|---|---|
College of Liberal and Fine Arts
| Faculty Rating | Overall Score | Merit % |
|---|---|---|
College of Sciences
| Faculty Rating | Overall Score | Merit % |
|---|---|---|
College for Health, Community and Policy
| Faculty Rating | Overall Score | Merit % |
|---|---|---|
University College
| Faculty Rating | Overall Score | Merit % |
|---|---|---|
Updated: December 2021