Purpose

To provide agency instructions for processing the October 1, 2018 Stipend Increase.

Affected Employees

Employees in the State University Graduate Student Negotiating Unit (GSNU) – BU28 who meet the eligibility criteria

Background

Chapter 166 of the Laws of 2017, which implemented the 2016-2019 Agreement between the State of New York and the Communications Workers of America/Graduate Student Employees Union, provides for an increase in stipend and an increase in the minimum stipend of two percent (2.00%) for the 2018-2019 academic year.

Effective Date(s)

The October 1, 2018 Stipend Increase will be effective 10/4/2018 and will be paid in Administration Pay Period 14L, paychecks dated 10/31/2018

Eligibility Criteria

Employees who meet the following criteria on 09/30/2018, 10/04/2018, and 10/17/2018 (Administration PP 14L Pay End Date) are eligible to receive the stipend increase for October 1, 2018:

• Bargaining Unit = 28
• Salary Grade = 980
• Pay Basis Code = BIW
• Payroll Status = Active or Leave with Pay

Agency Actions

Approved Salary Rates (Position Data Page)

Prior to processing the stipend increase, agencies must update the Approved Salary Rate field on each impacted row on the Position Data page to reflect the increased salary of the incumbent.

2018 Stipend Increase

To pay the October 1, 2018 Stipend Increase to eligible employees, agencies must submit a Pay Change on the Job Action Requests page using the Reason code SAC (Mass Salary Increase) and 10/4/2018 as the Effective Date. The value of the stipend increase should be determined by multiplying the salary in effect on 09/30/18 by 2.00% and rounding to the next whole dollar. This amount must be added to the salary in effect on 10/4/2018 and the result reported in the Pay Rate field.

The minimum stipend for academic year 2018-2019 is $9,959 for eligible employees on full assistantships employed at University Center campuses.

Subsequent Rows

If the employee has rows on the Job Data page subsequent to the effective date of the stipend increase, the agency must submit a Pay Change on the Job Action Requests page using the Reason code CSL (Cor Sal) with the effective date of the row being evaluated, the next available sequence number and the employee’s increased rate in the Pay Rate field, provided the employee remains eligible.

Tax Information

These monies are taxable income subject to all employment and income taxes, will be included in the employee’s taxable gross and reported on the employee’s Form W-2.

Questions

Questions regarding eligibility for this payment should be directed to the SUNY System Administration.

Questions regarding this bulletin should be directed to the Payroll Earnings mailbox.