Half-time or greater regular staff employees and faculty with above-average job performance who earn degrees from an accredited institution of higher education during their employment will be rewarded in appropriate ways whenever possible. Guidelines for this program are:

1. An employee will receive recognition only once for each type of degree awarded (i.e., associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate). An employee shall not receive an increase for earning a lower degree than already held. An employee may only receive an increase for earning the same level degree as already held if the degree is directly related to the position and no increase has been previously awarded.
2. The salary increases will be effective on the first day of the month following award of the degree, or on the first day of the month in which a degree increment request is received by the Office of Human Resources Services, whichever is later.
3. Degree increments will not be paid on a retroactive basis.
4. Employees who have met the above criteria will be eligible for a salary increase of:
   1. 5 percent of their current salary, not to exceed $1,000, for an associate degree.
   2. 5 percent of their current salary, not to exceed $1,200, for a bachelor’s degree.
   3. 5 percent of their current salary, not to exceed $1,400, for a master’s degree.
   4. 5 percent of their current salary, not to exceed $1,600, for a doctorate.
5. This Rule does not apply to faculty who were hired at salaries comparable to others in the department who already have doctorates.