Guidelines for classifying and paying Special Consultants and
Independent Contractors/ Guest Lecturers
The purpose of these guidelines are to assist the hiring department in
determining how to classify and pay Special Consultants and Independent Contractors/Guest
Lecturers while complying with State and Federal laws, CSU policies, and Collective
Bargaining Agreements. The following are two methods in which to pay individuals who
perform services for the University:
This applies to all individuals who are paid to provide personal services to the University. This includes all current staff, faculty, administrators, and students as well as individuals not currently employed by the University.
Human Resources & Equal Opportunity is responsible for appointing and paying individuals as employees in CSU standard classifications including the Special Consultant classification.
Procurement Services is responsible for the payment of individuals as Independent Contractors/Guest Lecturers through the procurement process.
If you wish you may print up the Special Consultant/ Independent Contractor/ Guest Lecturer at-a-glance sheet to use as an overview of the process.
Special Consultant (Class Code 4660) performs special assignments of a temporary nature, based on a particular knowledge, ability or expertise. This class is used when no other classification describes the work being performed. See Classification and Qualification Standards.
Special Consultants:
Current CSUSM employees who accept appointments as Special Consultants are subject to the Additional Employment policy addressed in the applicable collective bargaining agreement which limits total employment within the CSU system to a maximum of 125% of full-time employment. Academic year faculty employees may accept additional appointments in the Special Consultant classification during periods which are outside of the academic year, i.e. summer break.
Non-Exempt Employee
If the work being performed is similar to the employee's regular duties, and the current time base is full time, the employee must receive overtime or compensating time off (CTO) in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act and applicable to Collective Bargaining Agreement for work performed in excess of 40 hours in a work week.
New Appointments to the Special Consultant Classification
Special Consultants who are new to CSUSM must come to Human Resources & Equal Opportunity to sign on the University payroll within three (3) days of the effective date of appointment or on the first day of employment if the appointment is for less than three (3) days. The following employment forms will be required:
The Payroll Office is required to notify the employee's home campus/ state agency of additional appointments at Cal State San Marcos.
Payment to Special Consultants
Special Consultants are paid a daily rate. The daily rate for Special Consultants is up to a maximum of $1042 per day (CSU salary schedule section E99).
Required Documents
Current non-exempt employees who are appointed to the Special Consultant classification during their normal work hours must submit an approved Absence Form 634 showing the use of vacation credit or personal holiday to cover the time worked or a memo from the employee's supervisor indicating adjustment to the employee's regular work schedule.
The following changes to the Special Consultant form will require completion of a new form:
See Procurement website for Independent Contractor / Guest Lecturer Information
Need further help determining Independent Contractor/ Guest Lecturer vs. Special
Consultant?
Please refer to this worksheet.
For your convenience we have the
Special
Consultant Agreement Form and the Special
Consultant Timesheet available as well.
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