Funding Contingencies for EPA Non-Faculty Appointments

All EPA non-faculty appointments or reappointments may be made contingent on the availability of non-permanent State or Trust funds. In many instances, the contingency is related to continued sponsored research contract and grant funding. When present, this contingency permits early discontinuation of the appointment contrary to the normal appointment terms.  

To implement a funding contingency, the funding contingency must be included on the letter of appointment or reappointment prepared by the Department Head and provided to the employee. The presence of the funding contingency should also be flagged in the new employment or reappointment action in the EPAWeb Personnel Action System.

The following clause or substantially similar language is included in all EPA non-faculty appointment letters for appointments with a funding contingency:

"This appointment is contingent upon the continuing availability to (the department name) of funds appropriate for the payment of your salary from sources other than continuing state budget funds or permanent trust funds.  If at some future time these funds are unavailable, your appointment may have to be terminated; this is the meaning of contingency clause."

A funding contingency permits early discontinuation of an EPA non-faculty appointment due to a loss of funding. In these instances, the normal notice requirements for non-reappointment per the EPA Non-Faculty Employment Policies are superseded.

While this notice may legally be accomplished without prior notice,  departments should attempt to provide a minimum courtesy 30-day notice whenever possible.

All terminations due to activation of a funding contingency should be accomplished in writing to the employee by the Department Chair/Head and be copied through normal administrative approval channels. This letter should specifically refer the employee to the appropriate Human Resources Generalist in the Office of Human Resources for information on benefits continuation following termination from employment.