The University of New Mexico has begun a comprehensive review of compensation practices and guidelines for staff positions throughout the university system. The review is designed to ensure that practices are consistent, fair, and competitive. 

The project covers exempt and non-exempt staff positions at the main campus in Albuquerque, the Health Sciences Center, and branch campuses at Taos, Los Alamos, Valencia, and Gallup. The project does not cover faculty or bargaining unit employees. 

“Our managers and supervisors do a great job rewarding and developing our staff,” said Marleen Martinez, manager of HR Compensation. “We want to make sure they have up-to-date, best-practice guidelines to help them be even more effective.”

Compensation guidelines and practices being reviewed include: the offer process for new hires, promotions and lateral moves, pay adjustments, career development, succession planning, rewards and recognition, and payments for achieving advanced degrees. 

The project began with a series of interviews with university leaders, led by representatives from Aon Hewitt, the university’s consulting partner on the project. The interviews, along with a survey of field HR staff, will help document the current set of guidelines and practices.

In addition, an external survey of compensation practices at highly regarded universities, academic medical centers, and major New Mexico employers will provide insights to help the university update its own practices. 

Dorothy Anderson

“The overall goal of the project is to put in place guidelines that help the university attract, retain, and develop the staff we need in order to serve our faculty, students, patients, and our entire campus community,” said Vice President of Human Resources Dorothy Anderson.  

It is important to note that this project is not reviewing pay levels for individual roles or changing job classifications.

The project is set to continue through the winter with recommendations made to university leaders in the spring of 2016. Any changes to guidelines and practices are expected to be implemented for the fall semester of 2016. 

The University will provide updates on the project throughout the next several months.

For more information and or any questions, contact Compensation at comp@unm.edu or (505) 277-0610.