Implementation of Student Compensation Updates – Key Dates and Required Departmental Actions
Following the recent communication from the Office of Public Affairs, this message provides guidance regarding the implementation process and timeline for the approved 3% compensation increases for Student Officers. It also provides separate guidance regarding the minimum hourly rate update from $23.00 to $23.50 for certain Student Casual positions: CS-Instructional Assistant, CS-Research Assistant, and CS-Academic Support Assistant.
Given the number of student transactions currently in progress through eRoster, TBH, Multiple Hire, MSS Paper Transactions, Contract Renewal, and other hiring channels, please review the process and deadlines below carefully.
To the greatest extent possible, HRPC will support these compensation updates centrally. HRPC will provide Schools with Student Officer increase files before changing rates in PAC, and by moving Student Casuals in the selected positions who are currently at the $23.00 minimum hourly rate to the new $23.50 minimum where needed.
These central processes should not delay Student Officer or Student Casual hiring. Departments should continue to submit and approve transactions promptly in accordance with the established payroll calendar deadlines.
Action Required
To ensure the increases are reflected in the applicable September paychecks, please note the following deadlines and processing requirements:
- Student Officer transactions must be fully approved in PAC by Friday, August 28, 2026, at 5 p.m. to be included in the central Student Officer review file.
- Schools will be asked to review and approve the Student Officer file, which will be prepared by Central HR, by Friday, September 4, 2026.
- HRPC will upload the approved Student Officer increases into PAC on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
- Department administrators should review the updated Student Officer rates in PAC beginning Tuesday, September 8, 2026, and report any discrepancies to HRPC no later than Monday, September 14, 2026.
- Student Officer hires initiated or approved in PAC after the 5 p.m. cutoff on August 28, 2026, with an effective date on or after September 1, 2026, must be submitted at the applicable increased salary. If a Student Officer appointment letter has already been sent out, you do not need to send a revised appointment letter with the increased salary. Units with access to the GSAS appointment letter templates will find updated versions available for use after August 28, 2026.
- Student Casual hires or rehires in the selected positions noted above that are processed after the Friday, August 28, 2026, 5 p.m. cutoff with a start date of September 7, 2026 or later must be submitted at the applicable minimum hourly rate of $23.50. Hires at or above $23.50 do not require a rate increase.
Note: Student Officer transactions submitted but not fully approved in PAC by Friday, August 28, 2026, at 5 p.m. will not be included in the central review file.
Key Dates
Friday, August 28, 5 p.m.
Records must be approved in PAC to be included in the central review file.
Tuesday, September 1
HRPC will generate and provide the central review file for Schools.
Friday, September 4
Schools and departments must complete review and approval of the file.
Tuesday, September 8
HRPC will upload approved increases into PAC.
Monday, September 14
Final deadline for departments to report corrections for the September payrolls.
Monday, September 21
Student Officer paycheck reflecting applicable increases.
Friday, September 25
Student Casual paycheck reflecting applicable rate updates.
Student Officer Process
HRPC will work with specific schools to implement the Student Officer adjustments to regular base pay centrally where possible.
HRPC will generate a spreadsheet on Tuesday, September 1, based on Student Officer records approved in PAC as of Friday, August 28, at 5 p.m. The spreadsheet will include the applicable 3% increase for Student Officers.
Schools will be asked to review and approve the spreadsheet by Friday, September 4. Schools may determine whether the review should be completed centrally by the School/SBO or disseminated to departments for review within their units.
After HRPC uploads the approved increases on Tuesday, September 8, department administrators will have until Monday, September 14, to review the updated rates in PAC and submit any final corrections. Please coordinate with your School/SBO to determine how corrections should be submitted.
Populations and Processing Notes
Student Officers: All active Student Officers in PeopleSoft/PAC will receive a 3% increase to their regular base salary effective September 1, 2026. This includes the following titles:
- Teaching Assistants
- Teaching Fellows
- Preceptors
- Readers
- Teaching Assistants II
- Teaching Assistants III
- Graduate Research Assistants
- Department Research Assistants
- Department Research Assistants II
The first paycheck reflecting the Student Officer increase is expected to be the September 21, 2026 paycheck.
Student Officers at $0-Salary with Stipends Paid as Add Comp: Student Officers with $0-salary appointments who receive stipends as additional compensation via PAC will not be updated centrally. Departments should work with the CUIMC Payroll Office, GSAS, SEAS, or their school administration, as applicable, to calculate and process any required increases.
Student Casuals: HRPC will separately process the hourly rate update for active Student Casuals in the applicable titles below. Student Casuals will not be included in the Student Officer review file, and departments do not need to submit separate salary change transactions for these active Student Casual records.
Applicable Student Casual positions below the new minimum hourly rate will be increased to $23.50 per hour effective September 7, 2026:
- CS-Instructional Assistant
- CS-Research Assistant
- CS-Academic Support Assistant
Student Casuals currently earning $23.50 or above per hour will not be affected by this adjustment.
For new student casual hires or rehires entered into PAC after August 28, 2026, with start dates of September 7, 2026, or later, departments should use the new rate of $23.50 per hour.
The first paycheck reflecting the updated Student Casual rate is expected to be the September 25, 2026 paycheck.
Students Paid Through SIS: Students not on appointment who receive disbursements from SIS will receive the stipend increase through SIS. Additional details will be forthcoming on that process from Student Financial Services (SFS).
Reporting Discrepancies or Corrections
Student Officer discrepancies or corrections should be sent to the HR Service Center with the subject line “Student Officer Increase Question” and should request assignment to HRPC. In the ticket, please include the student’s name, UNI, employee ID, title, department, effective date, current rate, expected rate, and a brief description of the issue. Questions regarding Student Casual rate updates may also be submitted to the HR Service Center and assigned to HRPC.
Requests received after September 14, 2026, must be submitted through the standard processing channels and may not be reflected in the September 21 or September 25 paychecks.
Questions
For additional information or clarification, please contact the HR Service Center at 212-851-2888 or submit a ticket through the HR Service Portal.