Research Base Salaries

The University of Montana allows a faculty member to request the establishment of a separate position (research base). The requested research base will be reviewed and considered on an individual basis.  It is possible to request a new base after five years following the same process outlined below.

The process:

1. The faculty member collects and documents current salary information for at least three peers secured from nationally-recognized resources.
2. The faculty member completes the Request for Research Base form, with the salary documentation attached, and submits it to the departmental chair (or equivalent). 
3. The chair is responsible for thorough vetting, and if supportive, adds justification/comments to the Request for Research Base form and forwards all materials to the Dean.  
4. The Dean reviews for appropriateness and includes his justification/comments to the Request for Research Base form and submits the form along with attached documentation to the Provost.
5. The Provost reviews all materials, adds CUPA information, and, if approves, gives all documentation to the Vice President for Research.
6. When approved by the Vice President for Research, the signed request and all attachments are forwarded to the President.
7. Once the President’s approval is secured, all documentation is returned to the Office of the Vice President for Research.
8. The Office of the Vice President for Research forwards the original documentation to Human Resource Services.
9. Human Resource Services (HRS) retains the original documentation and forwards the request to the Commissioner’s Office for approval.
10. Once approved, HRS notifies the Vice President for Research in writing.
11. The Vice President for Research or his/her designee notifies the faculty member, chair, dean and/or director of the decision.

NOTE:  When approved, an individual’s research base must be used for all organized sponsored activity. Also, active research bases are automatically adjusted in Human Resource Services for merit, promotions, and across-the-board increases.  Market adjustments are not automatically adjusted and must be made as a specific request for research base change.

Appeal process

• If the request for a research base is denied after vetting by the Dean, the faculty member may write a formal appeal to the Vice President for Research. 
• Upon receipt of the formal appeal, the Vice President for Research will convene a meeting and include the Provost, the departmental Chair and Dean, three professional colleagues as suggested by the faculty member, and the Director of Human Resource Services. 
• The eight individuals on this appeal committee will meet to review and make a final determination.
• If the final determination is supportive, the Vice President for Research will endorse the request on the Request for Research Base form to the President, and the process continues.    
• If the final determination is to deny the appeal, there is no further appeal and the decision stands.