Strategic Plan 2011-2015: Compensation Benchmark Study

I. Brief Description & Significant Changes in Plans (if any): 
Currently the team has determined that our current classification and compensation structure has significant shortcomings which make it difficult to set market rates by position (particularly staff positions) with any degree of confidence. It has also been determined that this is an area where external skills and expertise would be very useful in assisting us in arrive at a best practices classification and compensation system, benchmarked to the market. An RFP for this assistance is in draft form currently. The team will meet soon to complete this document and discuss costs and funding.

II. Team Members:
David Koehn, Vice President for Business and Finance
Mark Kinders, Vice President for External Relations
Tim Foutch, Vice President for Operations
Kay Grant, Dean of the College of Education
Tim McElroy, Dean of the Muskogee Campus
Daniel Savage, Faculty Council
Rick Manes, Staff Council
Martha Albin, Director of Human Resources
and Christy Landsaw, Director of Budget

No external partners are involved at this time, but are expected as a result of the RFP process.

III. Major milestones/actions over the last 3-6 months: 
A cross functional team of NSU employees has been working on this action item for the past year. Currently the team has determined that our current classification and compensation structure has significant shortcomings which make it difficult to set market rates by position (particularly staff positions) with any degree of confidence. It has also been determined that this is an area where external skills and expertise would be very useful in assisting us in arrive at a best practices classification and compensation system, benchmarked to the market.

IV. Planned major milestones or actions over the next 6 months. 
An RFP was distributed on Nov 15, with the following timeline:

November 29, 2011: Pre-bid review at 10:00 a.m. (CST) (January 6, 2012 Deadline for questions by 5:00 p.m.(CST)
January 13, 2012: NSU responds to all questions by 5:00 p.m. (CST)
January 24, 2012: RFP’s due in Purchasing by 2 p.m. (CST)
February 13, 2012: Award RFP engaging consultant
February 21, 2012: Meeting to finalize scope of work and timeline(s)
March 09, 2012: Project begins
March 26, 2012: Formal review of progress
May 28, 2012: Project finished, Implementation plan presented
V. Classification, Current Funding Sources, Unfunded needs & estimated amount by year 2012, 2013, 2014: 
Classification = A. The team will meet soon to complete this document and discuss costs and funding.