General Types of University Employment

Permanent Appointments
These positions are usually full-time appointments providing a full benefit package, such as insurance, sick leave, and retirement options. Participation in the State University Retirement system is generally required. Permanent positions of less than 100% may also be offered with benefits proportionally provided.

Faculty
Faculty positions include (1) those in the professional ranks (i.e., professor, associate professor, and assistant professor); and (2) teaching, research, and other associates.

Supportive Professional Staff
Supportive professional staff positions include those employees whose positions have been designated as meeting specialized administrative, professional, or technical needs. Supportive professional staff receive an academic contract for a term appointment. They are provided all rights, privileges and benefits pertaining to other academic staff members except those that apply specifically to academic staff with faculty rank, such as eligibility for tenure. A wide variety of position titles are utilized in this category.

Civil Service (also known as "Operating Staff")
These University staff positions are required to be employed in accordance with the rules of the State Universities Civil Service System which include a fairly comprehensive set of testing and interviewing processes. A wide variety of position classifications are utilized in this category. This includes, for example, food service positions, a variety of clerical positions, tradespersons (electricians, police, carpenters and masons), and others.

• The complete list of the civil service classifications used statewide can be found here.
• Salary ranges for Civil Service jobs can also be viewed here.

Temporary Appointments
Temporary positions are for a maximum of one-year duration or less. No benefits are usually provided with these positions, except in the case of some temporary faculty and supportive professional staff.

Faculty/Supportive Professional Staff
Temporary positions are available in these categories and are usually designated as non-continuous appointments of one year or less. Some benefits may be provided based on the position title and appointment length.

Civil Service Extra Help
Extra help positions are used to fill a variety of short-term temporary employment needs of the University. Employees may work up to a maximum of 900 hours.

Student
While attending NIU, a student may take a job on campus and work up to 20 hours per week. Many positions are available. Student jobs provide a valuable "work experience" lesson and help to offset the costs of attending school. Employment opportunities are frequently available for students who demonstrate financial need through the College Work-Study Program. This program is also intended to broaden the range of academic and career-related positions for qualified students.

Graduate Assistant
Graduate Assistants are student employees in a Graduate School program whose appointments is consistent with their program of study that may include teaching, research, and/or clinical components.

Affiliate
These appointments are professional positions of a short duration (usually less than 3 months) to conduct a non-credit seminar, teach an extension class or otherwise fulfill some short-term professional responsibility.