Purpose

The purpose of this bulletin is to provide agency instructions for processing the 10/01/2021 Stipend Increase.

Affected Employees

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

Background

Chapter 337 of the Laws of 2019, which implemented the 2019-2023 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 2021-2022 academic year.

Effective Dates

The 10/01/2021 Stipend Increase will be effective 09/30/2021 and will be paid in Administration Pay Period 14L, paychecks dated 10/27/2021.

Eligibility Criteria

Employees who meet the following criteria on 09/30/2021 and 10/13/2021 (Administration PP 14L Pay End Date) are eligible to receive the stipend increase for 10/01/2021:

• Bargaining Unit = 28
• Salary Grade = 980
• Comp Rate 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.

2021 Stipend Increase

To pay the 10/01/2021 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 the Effective Date of 09/30/2021. The value of the stipend increase should be determined by multiplying the salary in effect on 09/30/2021 by 2.00% and rounding to the next whole dollar. This amount must be added to the salary in effect on 09/30/2021 and the result reported in the Pay Rate field.

The minimum stipend for academic year 2021-2022 is $10,568 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 taxes 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 the salary increases may be directed to the SUNY System Administration.

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