- Academic year contracts start payment the first day of the academic year in August, and end payment on the last day of the academic year in May.
- A year-round option allows the contract to be paid over 12 months.
Learn more about pay schedule options below.
Academic year pay schedule
If you select the academic year pay schedule, you will be paid from August to May.
- The academic year salary will be paid from Aug. 31 through May 31.
- August pay is a prorated gross amount of the academic year salary based on the August start date.
- September through April will pay equal gross amounts of the academic year salary.
- May will pay a prorated gross amount of the academic year salary based on the May academic year-end date.
12-month pay schedule
If you select the 12-month pay schedule, you will be paid over 12 months.
- Academic year salaries will be paid from Aug. 31 of the beginning year through Aug. 31 of the following year.
- In August, you will be paid a prorated gross amount of the prior year’s contract accrual based on the mid-August end date, in addition to the prorated gross amount of the new academic year contract based on the August start date.
- From September to July, you will receive equal gross amounts of the academic year salary.
Use our contract calculator to see if this option is best for you.
Some faculty may not be eligible to enroll in this pay schedule. Please see Tax Considerations for the 12-month pay schedule below to learn more.
Contract selection resources
Tax considerations for the 12-month pay schedule
Consideration one: Payments on this schedule paired with additional summer pay may be taxed at a higher rate because the two values are combined for tax purposes.
Consideration two: 12-month pay schedule contracts result in pay being deferred into the following tax year. For this reason, this contract type is restricted to faculty whose combined 12-month pay schedule does not exceed the limits defined in Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code regarding Deferred Compensation.
Before selecting a 12-month pay schedule, verify that you are under the allowable deferred compensation with out Contract Calculator.
Select your schedule
Returning Faculty Payment Schedule Selection
From May to mid-July of each year, you will have the opportunity to change your payment schedule for the new academic year in your employee portal. If you make no changes, your payment schedule will remain the same.
To view specific election dates and learn how to access contract pay elections, view our guide.
New Faculty Payment Schedule Selection
You may select an academic year pay schedule or 12-month pay schedule.
If you do not choose a schedule, it will default to an academic year pay schedule. If you have questions about contract payment options or the appropriate form to make your election, please contact your department liaison or Human Resources office.
Restrictions
Your contract election must be made during the Faculty Election Period for returning faculty and before the start of the applicable academic year for new employees. Your election is irrevocable; it may only be changed during the Faculty Election Period of each academic year.
Compensation changes
Contracts for academic year faculty are generally updated in August. Mid-year contract compensation changes will affect remaining payments. Changes made to the full contract amount during the contract period will change future payments to ensure accuracy.
If you have questions about new academic year compensation, please contact your department.
Leave
If you’re on an academic year contract, you will not accrue vacation leave.
However, you may be eligible for sick leave under certain circumstances. See the Faculty Handbook for guidelines and contact your department.
There’s more to your pay than receiving a paycheck. Ensure you understand your finances by reading your paycheck correctly, reviewing pay days, learning how to safeguard against lost paychecks and more.
Click on a tile to learn more about your pay
Resources
- Faculty Handbook
- Resources for HCM Users
- Information on 9-pay-12 Faculty Election
- Payroll Production Calendars
- Payroll Adjustments
- W-2
- Taxes
- CU Resources (in the employee portal)
- My Leave - Setting Your Preferences, Tracking Time and Requesting Leave
Additional Resources
- Four-campus search
- Department of Labor
- Board of Regents
- Internal Revenue Service
- Procurement Service Center—Contact the PSC for travel and business expense reimbursements reported as taxable income.
- Social Security Application
Faculty Payroll Forms
EMPLOYEE WORK RECORD
Employee Work Record Example-Biweekly
Employee Work Record Example-Fiscal Year
Employee Work Record Monthly
Faculty/University Staff Leave of Absence Form
Faculty/University Staff Leave Without Pay Form