Academic Year Start/End and Key 36-Week Contract Dates

The academic year runs from August 15 to May 15 and 36-week faculty contracts typically cover this period.
The University Faculty 12-month Salary Plan payment year typically begins on July 1 for a 36-week appointment, so salary paid for July and the first part of August is a pre-payment for services to be rendered during the subsequent 36-week academic year, while salary paid from May 15 through June 30 is payment for services already rendered.
36-week faculty contracts ideally should commence August 15 coincident with the start of the academic year.
- New faculty beginning on August 15 can expect their first paycheck on August 30 to include 2/12ths of their annual base salary (i.e., the July plus August payment that is partial pre-payment for the upcoming academic year) and each subsequent payroll check to include 1/12th of your annual base salary.
Faculty members departing the University (resignation or retirement) are expected to give at least two months' notice. For June 30 separation, notice should be provided prior to May 1. For December 31 separation, notice should be provided prior to November 1.
Faculty members on a 36-week contract should note the following:
- Ideal separation dates are either June 30 or December 31 since, with receipt of the June paycheck, faculty terminating on June 30th will have been fully compensated for the entire AY and, with receipt of the December paycheck, faculty terminating on December 31st will have been fully compensated for the fall semester.
- Separation dates in July and August are not allowed because base pay continuing during those months would be for future services that departing faculty will not be able to provide. Extenuating circumstances that may necessitate a separation date during the fall or spring semester will require salary adjustments (including the possibility that a faculty member needs to pay the University back for advanced compensation already received) and should typically not occur.
- Faculty who provide appropriate notice for June 30 separation, but have extramural funding that can provide them with summer research salary (SUPP II), may be able to transition to a 48-week appointment to allow for a separation date between July 1 and August 31. These circumstances require review and approval by the Dean and the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs.
- Faculty members with contract lengths greater than 36-weeks but less than 48-weeks will face similar constraints as those above, but should consult with HHD HR on the particular implications.
For more information on University policy around faculty separation, please see POLICY HR52.