Faculty Rights Tip:  Range Elevation for Lecturer Faculty – It Pays to Apply!

Range elevation is the formal process through which lecturers and temporary librarians can increase their salary by moving from one salary range to the next (e.g., Range A to B, B to C, or C to D).  If granted, a range elevation brings a salary increase of at least 5 percent, or the percentage increase required to reach at least the minimum of the next range, whichever is greater.  

When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, CFA’s Bargaining Team moved swiftly to extend our contract by a year in order to extend and protect elements in our contract including an additional range elevation opportunity for lecturers. Without regular steps or raises within in ranges, lecturers and other temporary faculty find themselves employed for long periods without ever maxing out in their current ranges. (Maxing out in range is a requirement under “normal” range elevation which has been extended with the rest of the contract as well.)

There is a success rate of over 90 percent for lecturers and temporary librarians who have applied for range elevation in the last few years.  It pays to apply! 

However, range elevation is not automatic. If you are eligible, you need to apply. Your campus administration is required to notify you, if you are eligible to apply, at least 30 days prior to the application deadline.  The deadlines vary by campus, and you can find campus range elevation policies here.

If your application is denied, you may appeal to a campus peer review panel. Most lecturers who have appealed have been successful in their appeals. Those who are denied are permitted to apply again in subsequent years. For questions about your years of service, time base, and salary, contact the campus payroll office.

Many campus CFA chapters offer range elevation workshops, so watch for these. The CFA workshops offer practical advice on preparing a successful application for range elevation. There is also more information available here on CFA’s Range Elevation resources page.

Want to learn more? Become active with your local CFA chapter Faculty Rights team. Find your representative here. 

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