Employment Status and Job Categories

As with most post-secondary institutions of higher learning, Rhodes has traditionally referred to “faculty,” “staff,” and, less often, “administrators.” For purposes this handbook, however, faculty, staff and administrators are all employees, and that is how they are referred to for the most part. There are a number of ways that Rhodes differentiates among employees, all of whom fall into various job classifications. This section discusses the different ways that Rhodes classifies its employees and how that affects their status. 

Faculty v. Staff

Faculty employees are those whose terms and conditions of employment are governed by an annual contract, which can be full-time or part-time. For further discussion of those terms and conditions of employment unique to faculty, see the Faculty Handbook.

Staff employees do not have a written contract of employment. The employment relationship between staff and Rhodes is “at-will.” At-will employees may terminate their employment relationship with the College at any time with or without reason, cause, or notice. The College may likewise terminate an at-will employee at any time with or without reason, cause, or notice.

Staff employees are classified based on their hours worked per week and their months worked per year according to the following categories:

• 37.5+ hours/week — 12 months/year (full time).
• 37.5+ hours/week — 10 months/year (full-time).
• Less than 37.5 hours/week — 12 months/year (part-time).
• Less than 37.5 hours/week — 10 months/year (part-time).

Full-time employees are eligible for the benefits described in this handbook. Part-time employees are entitled to benefits only to the extent specified. For more information, consult the Benefits section of the handbook. Individuals whose employment is incidental to the educational programs at the College, who are employed by the College primarily as a consultant, or who are employed by or through the College on the basis of grants and/or contracts and/or agency agreements are eligible only for social security and worker’s compensation coverage.

Staff employees may also be considered “introductory” or “regular” employees. Introductory employees are those who have not yet successfully completed their introductory period. Regular employees are those who have successfully completed their introductory period. Both introductory and regular employees are at-will employees of Rhodes College. For more information, see the Introductory Period section.

Exempt v. Non-Exempt

Exempt employees are employees who, under the guidelines established by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), are not subject to minimum wage and overtime pay requirements. To qualify for exempt status, employees’ specific job duties and salary must meet all of the requirements of the Department of Labor’s regulations regarding executive, administrative, professional, computer, and outside sales employees. Faculty are considered exempt professionals.

Non-Exempt employees are employees whose job duties and/or wage payments do not meet the definition of exempt under the FLSA. Non-exempt employees are entitled to at least the minimum wage for all hours worked and overtime pay at time and a half their regular hourly rate for all hours worked over 40 in one work week.