SUNY New Paltz Employees

• Academic Year Appointment Calculations     To determine the rate of pay charged to a grant, take the academic year salary and divide it by the number of appointment months (i.e. 9 months). Multiply the figure obtained by the number of months and percentage of effort to be dedicated to work on the grant. Example: 1) $35,000 / 9 months = $3889. 2) 3889 x 4.5 months x .20 = $3,500.
  Course release is estimated at 1 course per 20% effort per semester.
• Calendar Year Appointment Calculations     To determine the rate of pay charged to a grant, take the full year salary and divide it by 12 months. Example: 1) $35,000 / 12 months = $2,917. 2) $2,917 x 4.5 months x .25 = $3,281.
• Extra Service Calculations    Extra service payments can be made to SUNY New Paltz faculty and staff and to Research Foundation employees. In general, extra service appointment can be made under the following conditions:
  • the work performed is different from or in addition to the person's professional obligation
  • the work is performed outside of regularly scheduled hours and extra service is actually rendered
  • the sponsor has formally approved the appointment, if required, and
  • the payment is properly authorized under SUNY and Research Foundation policy
  • compensation for extra service is not to exceed 20% of an employees base annual salary in any academic or calendar year
  • amounts paid for extra service must be based on salary or an established reasonable rate (e.g. $1,500 for a 3 credit course)
• Summer Salary (academic year employees only)     Each month of effort equals 1/9 of the academic year base salary.
• Salary Increases     Project salary increases in multi-year budgets. See salary increase rate chart.

Research Foundation Appointments

Appointments to the Research Foundation payroll include regular and summer appointments. Amounts paid should be based on reasonable calculations with justification and approval required. For calculation of summer salary for academic year employees, see above under the section” SUNY New Paltz Employees.”

Student Appointments

• Undergraduate and graduate students may be appointed to a grant and paid through Research Foundation payroll. A reduced fringe benefit rate may be applied when the following conditions are satisfied:
  • The employee is enrolled as a full-time SUNY student.
  • The employee is working part-time or, if employed full-time in the summer, was enrolled as a full time student during the preceding academic year.
  • The employee is engaged in work related to the student's education and training that leads to the fulfillment of academic requirements.
  • The employee is working under certain titles

Consultants vs. Employees

• Under the common law rules cited in IRS rulings, an employee-employer relationship exists when the organization for which services are performed has the right to control and direct the individual who performs the services, not only as to the result accomplished by the work, but also as to the details and means by which the result is accomplished.
  • An independent contractor is a worker subject to the control and direction of the organization for which services are performed only as to the result of the work and not as to the means.
• To determine whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor, see the twenty- factor "Common Law Test".