Promotion Policy

Promotion Policy
for Administrative and Support Staff Positions


Gettysburg College promotes administrative and support staff employees when qualified employees are available, interested and deemed suitable in all respects and when it is determined that the promotion is in the best interest of the department and the College.

Promotion-in-Place

Promotions-in-Place may occur when an employee has attained a significantly higher level of experience, technical expertise, leadership, or accountability due to the position’s expansion, or has completed additional education that is relevant to the position and that enhances the employee’s ability to perform in the position. Promotions generally involve an increase in salary where funds are available. Promotions are made on the basis of the employee’s suitability for higher-level work and the job requirements, not based on seniority.

To be eligible for a promotion, administrative and support staff employees normally have held their current position for at least 12 months. All employees must have a satisfactory performance record and have no disciplinary actions during the same period in order to receive a promotion.

All employees who are promoted into a new position are subject to a new probationary period during which the supervisor evaluates the employee and the performance requirements of the new position. The College may extend the probationary period as necessary for appropriate evaluation.

Promotion into a Vacant Position

With the Vice President’s permission - in consultation with HR, a department head may choose to promote an employee within the same department into a vacant position without conducting a full search provided the following situations are met (1) there are no other likely qualified individuals within the department who may be interested in the position and (2) the individual receiving the promotion is within the traditional hierarchy of the position (ex: Supervisor to Manager, Assistant to Associate Director, Associate Director to Director, Director to Executive Director, etc). If there are other likely qualified individuals in the department who may possibly be interested in the position, an expedited search will be required. Additionally, if a department head wishes to fill an open position with a Gettysburg College employee from a different division, an expedited search will be required to ensure that other internal candidates may be considered.

To be eligible for a promotion into a vacant position, administrative and support staff employees normally have held their current position for at least 12 months. All employees must have a satisfactory performance record and have no disciplinary actions during the same period in order to receive a promotion.

Additionally, all employees who are promoted into a vacant position are subject to a new probationary period during which the supervisor evaluates the employee and the performance requirements of the position.

When a promotion has been approved into a vacant position, the expectation is that a full national search will be conducted when filling the position now available as a result of the promotion.