Under the M

Greetings Campus Community,

This message provides detailed information related to the pay increases that have been approved and scheduled for implementation in the coming fiscal year, with details provided for positions not covered by one of the collective bargaining agreements reached between the Montana University System (MUS) and the unions representing employees on campus.

For those employees represented by a bargaining unit, we will implement the annual increases as scheduled and articulated within the applicable collective bargaining agreement under which these employees are represented. Union affiliated employees are encouraged to reach out to their bargaining unit representatives with questions related to these agreements and are also welcome to contact the Human Resource Services office with inquiries.

Pay instructions for faculty and staff occupying union represented positions are expressed in the FY26 - FY27 labor agreements approved by the Montana Board of Regents. Copies are available for review online at the MUS website.

For all employees NOT subject to the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement, annual increases will be automatically applied by HRS as approved by the MUS, effective June 27, 2026 – the first day of the pay period including July 1, 2026. 

Details on these increases are listed by position type, as specified below:

Non-union Classified Staff

• Base wage will increase by $1.00/hr., or by 2.5%, whichever amount is greater.

• To be eligible for this increase, the employee must be employed as of June 26, 2026.

Non-union Faculty

Pay instructions for tenure-track and non-tenure-track faculty in positions that are not covered by collective bargaining agreements shall be as follows:

• The base salary of each employee must be increased by an annualized amount of $1,560 (for 1.0 Full-Time Employment (FTE) on an academic year contract) or by 2.5%, whichever amount is greater.

• For faculty who are on a fiscal year (12-month) contract, the base salary shall increase by an annualized amount of $2,080 or by 2.5%, whichever amount is greater, effective on the first day of the first complete pay period that includes July 1, 2025.

• The amounts of either $1,560 (academic year contract) or $2,080 (fiscal year contract) shall be prorated for faculty who are in positions of less than 1.0 FTE.

• Salaries for new faculty who begin their first contract year in fiscal year 2027 on or after July 1, 2026, are not impacted as the terms of their offer letters are controlling.

Contract Administrators and Contract Professionals

Pay instructions for MUS contract professional and contract administrators shall be as follows.

• The base salary of each employee must be increased by an annualized amount of $2,080 (for 1.0 FTE on a one-year contract) or by 2.5%, whichever amount is greater.

• The $2,080 shall be prorated by FTE or by contract term if the position is less than 1.0 FTE or the contract term is less than 12 months.

• The employee must be employed as of June 26, 2026 to be eligible.

• Salaries for new employees who begin their first contract year in fiscal year 2027 on or after July 1, 2026, are not impacted as the terms of their offer letters are controlling.

Individuals Employed via Letter of Appointment (LOA)

• HRS will automatically apply the increase with an effective date of June 27, 2026 - the first day of the pay period including July 1, 2026.

• The base salary will increase by an annualized amount of $2,080 (for 1.0 FTE on a one-year contract) or by 2.5%, whichever amount is greater.

• The actual amount paid as a result of $2,080 (or 2.5%, whichever is greater) being added to the total base salary shall be calculated on a prorated basis for employees who are in positions of less than 1.0 FTE or 12 months.

• The employee must be employed as of June 26, 2026 to be eligible.

• Salaries for new employees who begin their first contract year in fiscal year 2027 on or after June 27, 2026, are not impacted as the terms of their offer letters determine the base salary.

• Reappointments for individuals on a Letter of Appointment (LOA) should not be submitted with the standard increase listed above – please be advised that these will be returned for correction as needed.

• For additional information on LOA reappointments including requesting increases above the standard increase, please visit the LOA Reappointment Website provided by HRS.

Student Employees, Non-union Temporary Staff, Non-union Adjunct Faculty

Student employees, non-union temporary staff and non-union adjunct faculty will not receive the increase automatically. Increases for these employees are at the discretion of the department and may be allowable within guidelines and applicable approvals.

For any questions regarding annual pay increases, please contact Human Resource Services at AskHR@umontana.edu.

Shawn Blair

Associate Vice President for Human Resource Services

This message was sent by UM Internal Communications on behalf of Human Resource Services to all UM employees.