Gadsden State Community College's employment policies overview document outlines policies on: accessing the employee handbook; criminal background checks; salary schedules; employment agreements; work schedules; paid holidays; leave policies including types of leave; evaluations; conduct codes; probationary periods; professional attire; professional development; harassment and Title IX policies; mandatory online trainings; drug-free workplace; tuition waiver program; retirement plans; committee assignments; professional development opportunities; alumni association; travel and services; athletics; and safety/security procedures.

1. Gadsden State Community
College
Employment Policies Overview and General Information
www.gadsdenstate.edu

2. Gadsden State Community
College
Employment Policies Overview
www.gadsdenstate.edu

3. Accessing the Employee Handbook
Complete information on college policies and forms may be found by accessing the online Employee
Handbook at gadsdenstate.edu/emphandbook/ or by clicking on the Faculty/Staff link on the Gadsden State’s
website homepage. You can obtain a hardcopy to review from the following:
• Human Resources Office
• Executive Staff Offices
• Libraries (Ayers, McClellan, and Wallace Drive Campuses)
Please make sure you print and sign the Employee Handbook Access Acknowledgement Form

4. Criminal Background Checks
• State Board Policy 623.01 requires criminal
background checks for all full-time and part-
time employees.
• All employees must submit full consent and
personal information for the background
check.
• New full-time employees must pay for
background check. Current cost is $15.00.
• Complete policy is available in the Employee
Handbook

5. Salary Schedules and Payroll Options
State Salary Schedules:
o A- President
o B- Deans/Vice-Presidents
o C- Professional Staff
o D- Faculty (Instructors, Counselors, Librarians)
o E- F/T Support Staff
o H- P/T Support Staff
o L- Local (Skills Training Division)
Currently the only payroll option available at Gadsden State is Direct Deposit and it is required.

6. Employment Agreements
• Full-time faculty employment agreements are for a semester or nine month academic
year.
• Summer employment for faculty is determined by student need.
• Employment agreements for administrative and support personnel are effective
September 1, unless otherwise specified.

7. Work Schedules
Faculty Work Schedules:
• Full-Time instructors, counselors, and librarians employed on a nine-month contract will work 175 days.
• Faculty employed for the summer term will work 54 days.
• Faculty are required to work a minimum of 35 hours per week, excluding the lunch period.
• Weekly work schedules must comply with guidelines set forth by the President and State Board of Education
policy.
Administrative and Support Staff Work Schedules:
• Full-Time administrative and support (staff) employees work the 245 days that the College is officially open.
• Full-Time staff are required to work a minimum of 40 hours per week, excluding the lunch period.
• The College work schedule and operating hours are determined by the President.

8. 15 Holidays (College is Closed)
• New Year’s Day
• Martin Luther King/ Robert E. Lee Birthday
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Veterans’ Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Day after Thanksgiving
• Christmas Eve
• Christmas Day
• Five additional days designated by the President (see
college calendar)

9. Leave Policies
• Full-time employees are eligible to earn leave.
• Permanent part-time support employees on Salary Schedule H are eligible to earn leave on a prorated
basis.
• Leave may be taken in a minimum of 15 minute increments.
• Leave request form is to be completed and approved in advance for planned leave.
• For unanticipated absences, the leave request form must be completed immediately upon return to work.

10. Types of Leave (Paid and Unpaid)
• Annual Leave
• Court Attendance
• Emergency Leave
• Family and Medical Leave
• Job-Related Injuries
Absence
• Maternity Leave
• Military Leave
• Personal Leave
• Professional Leave
• Professional Development
Leave
• Sick Leave
• School Business Absence

11. Leave Policies
Annual Leave: Sick Leave: Personal Leave:
• Annual Leave is earned by non-
instructional employees only.
• Instructors, counselors, and
librarians do not earn annual leave.
• The number of days earned per
month is based on a range of years
of full-time experience.
• Maximum of 60 days may be
accrued and carried forward to next
fiscal year.
• Earned annual leave days exceeding
60 during a year and not used are
forfeited.
• Eligible employees earn one day
of sick leave per month.
• Employees must work one-half
of working days in initial month
to accrue a day of sick leave.
• An unlimited number of sick
leave days can be accumulated.
• Salary Schedule D full-time faculty
are granted five days per fiscal
year.
• Eligible employees on other salary
schedules are granted two days
per fiscal year.
• Personal leave is not cumulative.
Unused personal leave is
converted to sick leave at the end
of the fiscal year.
• The reason for personal leave is
not required but approval should
be requested in advance.

12. School Business Absence
• School business absence is work that requires the
employee to be away from their regular workstation.
• The school business leave request form must be
completed by the employee and approved by the
supervisor before the leave occurs.

13. Sick Leave Bank
• Purpose
To provide a loan of sick leave days for participating members after accumulated sick
leave days have been exhausted
• Membership
• Complete application (open enrollment Aug. 1 – Sept. 15)
• Deposit 5 sick leave days in your account in the SLB
• New employees are eligible as soon as 5 days are accrued
• Requirements
• Must use all sick leave before you can borrow from SLB
• May borrow up to 15 days with medical statement
• Must repay borrowed days as earned (monthly)

14. Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Eligibility
• Must be a member of the Sick Leave Bank
• Must use all earned leave (sick, annual, and personal)
• Must provide medical certificate
• Must have borrowed 15 days from the SLB
• Must be approved by SLB Committee
• Availability of days dependent upon donations from other employees
• Donations must be at employee’s request
• Donations (days) are not repaid
• Must be a SLB member to receive or donate days

15. Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
• The FMLA of 1993 requires covered employers to provide up to twelve (12) weeks of unpaid, job-protected
leave per year to eligible employees due to the birth or adoption of a child, the employee’s own serious health
condition, or because the employee is needed to care for a parent, child, or spouse with a serious health
condition.
• Health benefits must be maintained during the leave at the same level of employer and employee contribution
as prior to the leave.
• Accrued sick leave must be used as part of the twelve-week period.
• FMLA leave is unpaid after accrued leave is exhausted.
• Eligibility requirements:
• Employed at least 12 months
• Work at least 1,250 hours during 12 months prior to start of FMLA leave (Example: 25 hours per week for
52 weeks = 1300 hours—would quality)
• Must submit written request to the President

16. Evaluation Procedures and Conduct Code
Evaluation Procedures:
• Each full-time employee will have an annual performance review/evaluation by their immediate supervisor.
• Each employee will have the opportunity to complete evaluation forms on all administrative personnel in
his/her chain of command.
• Each employee will have the opportunity to complete an evaluation of College programs and services.
Employee Conduct Code:
• The Conduct Code is subject to all provisions of State Board of Education Policy.
• The Conduct Code is applicable to all employees.
• Violations may result in reprimand, suspension, and/or dismissal.
• A copy of the Employee Conduct Code is located in the Employee Handbook.

17. Probationary Period and Tenure
• Probationary Period
• Faculty – Six consecutive semesters excluding
summer term.
• Administrative and Support (Staff) – Thirty-six
months from date of full-time employment.
• Performance review/evaluation every 12 months
• Applies to all employees who work 20 hours or
more per week
• Permanent Status (tenured) – full-time employees
attain tenure after completion of the probationary
period (time off due to unpaid leave of absence does
not count)

18. Professional Attire Policy
• All employees shall dress in a manner and have
an appearance that is appropriate and
professional in light of their job functions and
working environment.
• Employees may wear Gadsden State Community
College logo apparel on Friday. All logo apparel
should be neat, clean, and present a professional
image.
• The College requires all employees to wear
identification (ID) badges while on duty. ID
badges are worn for security, identification, and
customer service purposes. ID badges should be
displayed for ease of visibility on the upper body.
• Questions regarding this policy should be
directed to the employee’s immediate supervisor.

19. Professional Development Plan and
Professional Growth Plan
• All full-time employees prepare a Professional Development Plan as part of the annual performance
review/evaluation.
• Faculty
• Professional Growth Plan is required when the faculty member plans to seek an advancement in rank.
Must be approved by the appropriate Executive Staff and the President.

20. Harassment Policy Title IX Coordinator
The Title IX Coordinator for Gadsden State Community College is Michele Bradford, Director of
Diversity and Compliance. Any person who believes herself or himself to be subjected to
discrimination, sexual harassment, intimidation, and/or exploitation should contact Ms. Bradford at
her office in the Joe Ford Center—Room 126, East Broad Campus. Her telephone number is
256.439.6822. (Documentation is included in new employee’s payroll packet.)

21. Mandatory Online Training
On-line Workplace Harassment Training:
• All employees are required to complete two on-line workplace
harassment training modules.
• Follow the Faculty/Staff link from the Gadsden State website home page
and click on Unlawful Harassment Prevention Training for Higher Ed.,
and click on Preventing Discrimination and Sexual Violence.
• Upon completion, print both certificates and return to the HR/Legal
Affairs Office.
On-line Ethics Training:
• All employees are required to complete the on-line ethics training.
• Go to www.ethics.alabama.gov
• Click on Ethics Training Video.
• Upon completion, enter your name and print a certificate. Please send
a copy of the certificate to the Human Resources Office.

22. Drug- Free Workplace
• As a recipient of Federal contracts and grants, GSCC complies with the requirements of
Public Law 100-690 for a drug-free workplace.
• A copy of the complete drug-free workplace policy is located in the Employee Handbook.

23. Gadsden State Community
College
General Information
www.gadsdenstate.edu

24. Employee Tuition Wavier Program
(Any two-year state college in Alabama)
• 1 year employment = 1/3 tuition waived
• 2 years employment = 2/3 tuition waived
• 3 years employment = full tuition waived
• Includes dependents/spouse
• Dependents eligible 5 years after employee retires with 25 years of
service

25. RSA-1 Deferred Compensation Plan
• This option is offered to Retirement Systems of
Alabama members.
• Members may contribute pre-tax dollars
lowering taxable income and reducing the
amount of taxes paid.
• The plan is available through payroll
deduction.
• There is no minimum amount to contribute
each month and contribution amounts may
increase, decrease, or stop as often as the
payroll officer allows.
• Members can enroll at any time.
• Information is available at www.rsa-al.gov/ or
call 1-877-517-0020.

26. Committee Assignments
• Employees are given the opportunity to rank committees on which they would like to serve.
Every effort is made to match employees with the appropriate committee. Employees may
also be asked to serve on a taskforce as needed.
• Professional employees are often required to conduct committee work outside their normal
work hours.

27. Professional Development
• The Gadsden State Professional
Development Committee coordinates
annual activities throughout the year for
all employees, including such topics as:
• Diversity
• Customer Service
• Motivational/Leadership
• Community/National concerns
• Learning and Teaching Techniques/Styles
• Health Issues

28. Gadsden State Alumni Association
• Gadsden State employees, students, friends, and
supporters of the College are eligible for
membership in the Alumni Association.
• Dues are $20 per year or $300 for a lifetime
membership.
• Payroll deduction is available.
• Dues and contributions provide student
scholarships.

29. Travel and Miscellaneous Services
Travel:
• If you have to travel out of town or out of state on College business and you drive your personal
vehicle, you will be reimbursed at the current published rate for mileage as well as per diem.
• You may use a College state vehicle (if available) at no cost to your department with no mileage
reimbursement.
• Please refer to the Financial Services link from the Gadsden State website home page for more
details.
Miscellaneous Services:
• Two Cafeterias (Ayers campus & Wallace Drive)
• Three Bookstores (Ayers, McClellan & Wallace Drive)
• Duplication Center
• ID Badge
• Vehicle Registration (hangtag)
• Computer technical support

30. Gadsden State Cardinal Athletics
• Men’s basketball
• Women’s basketball
• Women’s softball
• Men’s tennis
• Women’s volleyball

31. Safety and Security Procedures
• The Office of Safety and Security is
responsible for security and
emergency response on all College
campuses.
• Complete policies for safety, security,
accident, and emergency procedures
are detailed in the online Safety and
Security Handbook.
• Follow the Directory link from the
Gadsden State website home page.

32. Welcome Staff, Faculty, and Adjuncts
Go Cardinals!