Faculty Pay Schedules

General principles

The Faculty Handbook (Chapter 4) outlines the policies and practices at Duke concerning faculty compensation, base salary determination for term of academic appointment, joint funding of academic appointments, schedule of payment (usually September through August of each year, although the actual twelve-month period over which pay is spread may be modified if duties start earlier than September), and special compensation in addition to base salary (including extraordinary pay and supplementary pay). Faculty appointments outside the Medical Center may be for nine, ten, or eleven months, or they may be short term. The rules concerning summer supplements vary by type of base appointment. We quote from the Handbook:

Nine-month appointments, including summer supplements

“The term of appointment for non-medical faculty on nine-month appointments consists of an eightmonth core which corresponds to the academic calendar established by the president each year (usually September through April) and a one-month period outside of the academic calendar. Responsibilities for the one-month outside of the academic calendar may be performed in any of the four remaining months provided that the timing of performance is such that commitments made on externally funded projects are met. The term of appointment for medical faculty on nine-month appointments is negotiated individually with the department Chair or Dean, School of Medicine/vice chancellor for Medical Center academic affairs. Faculty members on nine-month appointments may receive summer supplements through the Duke University payroll system up to a maximum of three-ninths (3/9ths) of the base salary rate for the immediately preceding appointment term.

“If the summer supplements are for University or other non-federally funded work such as summer session teaching, independent study, special programs, or administrative assignments requiring summer effort, compensation up to 100% of one-ninth of a faculty member’s salary can be paid in any three of the four designated summer months: May, June, July or August.

”However, if summer supplements are for federally-sponsored projects, they must be handled differently. While faculty with committed summer effort on sponsored projects may still be paid a total of threeninths summer salary, they should not receive 100% of one-ninth in any one month. Two different procedures must be followed. First, the University caps compensation from federally-sponsored research in any given summer month at 75% or less per month over each of the four summer months: May, June, July and August. Second, compensation from federal funding is limited to two and a half ninths and the final half ninth must be paid from University or other non-federal funds.

“For faculty having three months of summer salary budgeted on their federal grants, the last half month of effort and salary would no longer be spent on grants during the summer but would be committed, performed and paid during the academic year. This practice will create a salary savings pool in each school’s budget. From this pool of school funds the entire half month’s worth of salary and fringe benefits will be used to pay the extra half month of salary needed to achieve a full three months of summer salary.

“Salary supplements for non-medical faculty may be earned in May, June, July, or August depending on when the ninth month of the appointment term is taken. Grant recipients are expected to comply with the conditions of the granting agencies. No faculty member may receive more than twelve (12) months of base compensation and supplementary pay in any fiscal year unless permission is granted by the Provost or Chancellor for Health Affairs for the individual to receive extraordinary pay, as outlined above” (pp. 43, 4-4).

Ten-month appointments

“Faculty members on ten-month appointments are eligible to receive up to two-tenths (2/10ths) of the base salary rate for the immediately preceding appointment term. The same conditions apply as stated above for faculty members on nine-month appointments” (p. 4-4).

Eleven-month appointments

“Faculty members outside the Medical Center on eleven-month appointments are eligible to receive up to one-eleventh (1/11th) of the base salary rate for the immediately preceding appointment term. The same conditions apply as stated above for faculty members on nine-month appointments” (p. 4-4).

Short-term appointments

Short-term appointments are available only for non-regular rank faculty. All regular rank faculty must hold a full-time appointment (Faculty Handbook, p. 4-5). The exact dates of appointment for faculty holding a short-term appointment (one year, one semester, or shorter) will be described in the offer letter, as will the exact pay arrangements (pay rate and pay schedule).

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