UNM Term Employee Retention Initiative
UNM recognizes the growing uncertainty surrounding federal funding, and the anxiety and stress this uncertainty creates for our campus community. In response to this uncertainty, UNM is launching the Term Retention Initiative (TRI). Aligning with UNM2040’s Sustainability Goal, this program will connect our valued term staff with new opportunities, thereby retaining talent and institutional knowledge while leveraging the skills and expertise of our current employees.
The program is designed for term appointment staff whose terms are not extended because of funding disruptions.
Employees
Apply to a TRI Talent Pool
Hiring Departments
Request Access to a TRI Talent Pool
Frequently Asked Questions
Term Retention Initiative Program Overview
The TRI streamlines the hiring process by creating a centralized talent pool of qualified, experienced university employees whose appointments are ending due to grant or contract cancellations or a loss of federal funding. Rather than requiring these individuals to search for and apply to open positions, the program enables impacted staff to submit a single application to be considered for a broad range of open positions across campus. Prior to posting an open position, departments and hiring managers are encouraged to review the TRI talent pools for qualified applicants who would be eligible for a direct placement into the open position.
Program Highlights
- Single Application Process: Impacted employees complete one application to be considered for multiple roles, reducing administrative burden and minimizing delays in the selection and hiring process.
- Direct Manager Access: Prior to posting a vacant position, hiring managers can opt into the program and gain access to talent pools for immediate consideration.
- Expedited Hiring: Managers have the discretion to interview and select qualified candidates directly from the pool, allowing for faster placements into vacant positions.
- Talent Retention: By retaining institutional knowledge and leveraging the skills of current employees, the program helps mitigate the disruption caused position turnover.
Program Benefits
- Supports Employee Well-being: Demonstrates a commitment to employees impacted by external funding shifts, reducing uncertainty and reinforcing the university’s values.
- Preserves Institutional Knowledge: Retains trained, mission-aligned employees who are already familiar with university systems and culture.
- Promotes Operational Continuity: Departments can quickly fill vacancies in critical areas with experienced talent.
- Enhances Hiring Efficiency: Simplifies the recruitment process for both candidates and hiring departments, easing administrative burdens during a challenging fiscal period.
Program Details and Eligibility Requirements
- Open to current term appointment staff who receive notice that their term is not extended, or is extended at a reduced FTE, due to contract or grant cancellation, non-renewal, or other reduction in federal funding:
- Staff must be in good standing with a successful performance evaluation and no documented disciplinary action within the past 12 months.
- Employees are eligible for direct placement into the same or similar position of the same or lesser grade.
- Employees will remain eligible for the program for 6 months beyond their term end date.
- Postdoctoral Fellows whose appointments are terminated or not renewed are eligible to participate in the program.
- Eligible employees can opt-in to the program and join a talent pool by applying to one or more Talent Pools in UNMJobs:
- Research and Technical Positions Talent Pool
- Program, Operations, and Financial Management Positions Talent Pool
- Administrative and Support Positions Talent Pool
- Departments that have an open position are encouraged to opt-in to the program by requesting access to one of more of the Talent Pools.
- Departments will request access to applications and have the option to directly place an applicant into the open position.
- Departments are not required to fill vacant positions through this program, and may elect to post and fill vacant positions through UNM’s standard competitive recruitment process.
Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
This program is designed to support term appointment staff whose positions are being eliminated due to funding disruptions but are not eligible for reemployment benefits via the layoff process.
The new program streamlines the hiring process by creating a centralized talent pool of qualified, experienced university employees whose term appointments are ending due to grant cancellations or a loss of federal funding. Rather than requiring these individuals to search and apply for open positions, the program enables impacted staff to submit a single application to be considered for a broad range of open positions across campus.
The program is open to current term appointment employees in good standing who have received notice that their current term is not extended due to grant cancellation, non-renewal, or other reduction in federal funding. Employees will remain eligible for the program for six months past their term end date.
No – regular staff employees whose positions were eliminated, or FTE was reduced, pursuant to UAP 3225, Section 5 continue to receive the priority hiring benefits associated with the layoff process.
Pursuant to UAP 3200, Section 4, term appointment employees are not placed on layoff status at the end of their term appointment, and as such are not eligible for the layoff process’ priority hiring benefit. The TRI program is designed to support these employees through a simple and streamlined application and hiring process for other university positions.
Yes - as required by UAP 3225, Section 6, employees on the layoff roster will be given priority hiring consideration prior to term employees participating in the TRI program.
Yes - eligible employees from all UNM campuses are eligible to participate in the TRI program.
For Employees
Eligible term employees can apply for a talent pool through the following links:
There are three distinct talent pools to help better match employees with department vacancies, and employees should apply to the talent pool(s) that is the best fit for your skills and experience. The specific talent pool postings also provide guidance on specific job titles that will be considered for that talent pool:
- Research and Technical Talent Pool
- Program, Operations and Financial Management Talent Pool
- Administrative and Support Talent Pool
Not necessarily - Employees hired through this program are subject to UNM’s standard salary determination criteria, which are based on the grade of the position, the individual's qualifications, including education and job-related experience, and departmental budgetary considerations.
No, application to a candidate pool does not guarantee you will be hired into a vacant position. Departments will evaluate applications based on the minimum and preferred qualifications for the vacant position. If the department determines you are a match for the vacant position, you may be contacted for a screening or interview. Please note, you can only be hired non-competitively for a same or similar job with the same or lower grade as your previous position at UNM.
Employees who separate employment will be paid out for unused annual leave pursuant to UAP 3400, Section 7. Employees who are rehired through this program within six months will be eligible for reinstatement of their sick leave balances in a manner consistent with the layoff process specified in UAP 3410, Section 13.1.
If hired through this program after separation, employees have to complete a six (6) month probationary appointment. Employees who are hired prior to their term end date without a break in service will serve a three (3) month trial period. For more information on probation and trial periods, see UAP 3210, Sections 7 and 8.
Yes, employees are still encouraged to apply for any open positions on UNMJobs.
If you have questions about the program or would like support with submitting your application, please email clientsv@unm.edu.
For Hiring Mangers
You can request access to a talent pool by completing this short request form: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/8f4fa7385d8040428e0897b5895c8e0f
Yes, by requesting to utilize one of the TRI talent pools, you can review and hire a candidate from the pool without going through the standard competitive hiring process.
Instead of the typically required competitive posting process, managers have the discretion to interview and select qualified candidates directly from the pool, leveraging streamlined approval processes and providing for faster placements into vacant positions.
No, this is a voluntary program, so departments can still opt to post their position competitively.