Employee Classification

Florida Atlantic University employees are classified into groups based on the nature of the position, including job duties, level of responsibility, duration of employment, funding source, and regulatory requirements. Classification is position‑based, not employee‑based.

FAU groups positions into classifications based on:

Job duties and responsibilities
Required qualifications and experience
Level of responsibility and decision‑making authority

This ensures consistent treatment of similar work across the University.

FAU positions generally fall into the following categories:

Administrative, Managerial, and Professional (AMP)

AMP positions are non‑faculty, non‑union roles that perform administrative leadership, management, or advanced professional work requiring independent judgment.

To qualify as AMP, the position must meet one or more of the following criteria:

Administrative leadership responsibilities

Oversight of programs, budgets, policies, or institutional initiatives

Managerial or supervisory authority

Direct supervision of employees or functional authority over operations

Professional‑level expertise

Advanced knowledge typically gained through education and/or significant experience

Independent judgment and decision‑making

Authority to interpret policy, analyze complex issues, or recommend institutional action

Exempt or Non‑Exempt under FLSA (depending on duties)

FLSA status is determined by job duties and salary, not group name

Support Personnel (SP)

SP positions provide operational, clerical, technical, or skilled support to university functions and programs.

To qualify as SP, the position must:

Perform support or operational duties rather than policy‑level decision making
Follow established procedures, standards, or supervisory guidance
Require specialized skills, training, or certifications
Have limited independent authority

Decisions are typically task‑ or process‑based

Be designated as non‑exempt or exempt under FLSA based on duties

Faculty

Faculty positions are academic roles centered on instruction, research, service, and academic administration.

To qualify as Faculty, the position must:

Have a primary duty of teaching, research, or academic service
Be appointed to a faculty pay plan or faculty title
Require academic credentials appropriate to the discipline
Involve curriculum development, scholarly activity, or instructional oversight

Faculty Categories:

In‑Unit Faculty – Covered by a collective bargaining agreement

Out‑of‑Unit Faculty – Not collectively bargained (e.g., certain executives, administrators with faculty rank)

Temporary and OPS (Other Personal Services)

OPS positions provide short‑term, intermittent, or project‑based services and are not intended to be ongoing.

To qualify as OPS, the position must:

Be temporary in nature

Time‑limited, seasonal, or project‑specific

Not require permanent institutional accountability

Student Employees

Student employee positions are designed to provide part‑time employment opportunities that support students’ educational experience.

To qualify as Student Employment, the position must:

Require the employee to be actively enrolled as an FAU student
Be incidental to the student’s academic pursuit
Emphasize learning, development, or campus support
Have limited responsibilities and authority

Be time‑limited by academic terms or enrollment status