Hello,
Within two business days, Human Resources will email formal letters to all of you detailing your role in the merged institution for July 2027, including your compensation.
Since the merger announcement, we’ve talked about retaining as many employees as possible to serve the growing needs of the merged institution. We’ve also committed to creating a compensation strategy that is sustainable, equitable, and something we can use as a long-term guide.
We’re happy to say we’ve accomplished both in the roughly 17 months since we revealed the plan to merge.
Meanwhile, this process also has offered a unique chance for creative and thoughtful organizational design as we reconsider silos and create a university that centers the needs of students and speaks to where higher education is headed, not where it’s been.
A committee of employees, including representation from both colleges, served as a critical voice in the design of the compensation philosophy and system, and we can’t thank them enough for their work. The president’s cabinet – with members from both colleges – worked to create an organizational structure that addresses the strategic direction of the university and positions it to be competitive in a more-competitive-than-ever higher ed landscape.
Before letters come out, here are some important details:
Signing and returning the letters
We ask that you sign and return your letter via email (HR@sage.edu or HumanResources@acphs.edu) or in person to Human Resources by the end of the day September 22. Signing and returning your letter confirms you have received the information and indicates your interest in the position. It is not a binding contract with either college or the future university, and it does not restrict your rights or obligations.
How this information was decided
After the organizational charts were designed, every role at the merged university was classified into a category by the leaders of each division, and each category corresponded to a compensation band. These bands, which have been discussed at our merger forums, were set after evaluating compensation at more than 80 benchmark institutions.
Our first goal was to ensure that every employee is within the band for their classification, and we have accomplished that for the roughly 250 employees who needed to be brought into a compensation band. One of the real strengths of this merger is that it puts us in a position to make the approximately $1 million commitment to bring every employee into band. The Compensation Committee supported making this investment before all else. Using the raise pool, we will bring everyone who is under band into their band over the next 12 months, with half of the increase coming in the first October pay period and the remainder in July 2027.
The Compensation Committee asked us to prioritize bringing every employee into band this year, and we agreed it was the right first step. For everyone whose salary is already in band, we will distribute a $250 appreciation bonus in October. We want that appreciation bonus to signal something larger: We know salaries need ongoing attention, and we are committed to investing in compensation for everyone on an annual basis going forward.
Where to go if you have questions about your letter
If there is a factual error in your letter, please reach out to Human Resources (HR@sage.edu or HumanResources@acphs.edu).
We’ve created an equitable and standardized approach to compensation that is fair to both institutions and is built on benchmarks, so the bands aren’t negotiable. We are in the early stages of developing a review process that will open in early 2027. Through it, supervisors and employees will be able to request a review of a position’s classification, primarily where job duties have changed, and in limited cases where there is a strong rationale for revisiting the initial placement.
Your direct supervisor is available to discuss your letter and may refer you to the vice president for your area.
Additional changes and info
Benefits: Some other changes to be aware of include our benefits carriers. We’ve selected CDPHP for medical, Express Scripts (ESI) for prescriptions, and Guardian for vision, dental, and ancillary benefits. Plan design and options available under those carriers are still being worked out. We will share updates over the course of the fall semester, including numerous information sessions for employees before the Open Enrollment in late October/early November. The new benefits program will begin on January 1, 2027.
Work week schedule: Beginning July 1, 2027, the workweek schedule will be 37.5 hours a week. Compensation and hours for union employees have been negotiated separately through the collective bargaining process, and union employees will remain at 40 hours.
Paid time off: Current Russell Sage employees will continue to accrue vacation and sick time and receive personal days. ACPHS has traditionally frontloaded time in July. For July 2027, we will frontload vacation and sick time for current ACPHS employees at the same amount they received in July 2026 and add personal days consistent with the Russell Sage policy. At the same time, current ACPHS employees will begin to accrue for July 2028 following the current Russell Sage policy.
Moving forward together
You can learn more about the salary bands and process and find FAQs on the Compensation Committee website, the link to which can be found in Passport (RSC) and ADP (ACPHS).
We’re happy to take general questions about the process at the two September employee forums. The same content will be offered on both dates to accommodate everyone’s schedules. We’ll also hear from ITS on system rollouts and changes, and receive a brief university brand update from Marketing and Communications.
The forums, held via Zoom, are:
Tuesday, September 29, at 11 a.m.
Wednesday, September 30, at 4 p.m.
As we’ve said before, you are the strength of our two institutions and allow us to offer an exceptional educational experience to students each day. We’re grateful for all you do, and we are excited to continue working with the extraordinary talent at both ACPHS and Russell Sage as we launch a university together.
Sincerely,
Matt and Theresa
Matthew Shaftel, Ph.D.
President, Russell Sage College
Interim President, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Theresa Hand, OTD
Executive Vice President and Provost, Russell Sage College
Interim Campus Executive, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences