After reviewing the results of a November staff survey, ACC is moving into the next phase of the Compensation & Classification Study process. The College has been working with consultant Guidehouse to review our job titles, profiles, classifications, and more to ensure each role is clearly defined, fairly compensated, and aligned with ACC’s future. 

“The Compensation & Classification Study is an important step towards achieving our North Star because your role, contributions, and your growth are integral to our ability to serve our mission,” says HR Vice Chancellor Kelly Torrico. “We want to make sure all job profiles have an opportunity to be reviewed, and we are committed to discovery and feedback that is as thorough and mindful as possible because we know that quality input leads to quality outcomes. Our goal is to identify sustainable, fair, and effective solutions in service to our mission and employees.”

The four-phased process launched in summer 2024 and is expected to wrap in March or April 2025.

Current Project Timeline

  • Prepare Phase | July 2024 through September 2024
  • Discovery Phase | September 2024 through December 2024
  • Ideate Phase | December 2024 through February 2025
  • Model Phase | February 2024 through March/April 2025

During the Discovery Phase, Guidehouse reviewed organization charts, outstanding requests pertaining to jobs and pay, and HR processes provided by the College. They also conducted an initial round of stakeholder engagement, including an all-staff survey and meetings with divisional leadership as well as department heads in areas such as Continuing and Adult Education.

The survey’s completion and analysis will result in a Current State Analysis, which Guidehouse will share with Cabinet and we’ll share with the College. This transition from the Discovery Phase to the Ideate Phase will include next steps, continued engagement plans, and ways to provide feedback. Torrico chairs a collaborative workgroup comprised of staff association leadership and administrators which aim to ensure communication related to the Compensation & Classification Study are clear, transparent, and timely.

Survey Results

Approximately 51% of the College’s staff and hourly employees (1,072) responded to the survey—55% were Professional-Technical employees and 45% were Classified. The results show that many roles are not aligned with their job title and/or description:

  • 47% of respondents (506) indicated that they do not believe their job title accurately reflects their duties.
  • 50% of respondents (533) indicated that they do not believe their job description accurately reflects their duties.
  • The overlap results in 38% of respondents (409) indicating that they believe that neither their job description nor their job title is correct.

Results also indicate that one cluster of job roles had a lot of disparity, overlap, redundancy, or gaps in clarity. These roles are analysts, coordinators, and specialists, and the College will work with Guidehouse to start with these.

Next Steps

Over the next couple of months, Guidehouse will conduct another round of stakeholder engagement, this time focusing on subject matter experts. There will be multiple types of engagement opportunities, including focus groups.

Additionally, expansion of Guidehouse’s scope of work is currently in discussion. The current scope is to review 300 unique job titles. The College is looking to expand the scope to 800 job titles and ensure Guidehouse assists with the implementation of changes adopted by the College

Finally, the HR team will continue to evolve to improve internal cohesion and operational excellence in order to ensure smooth implementation and adoption of new practices. Most notably, the compensation, employment, and benefits teams which were previously separate will now be combined into one “Shared Services” team led by Alisol Martinez. The change will call for robust cross-training and process improvement in support of our employee’s broad range of inquiries and service requests.  

Learn more on HR’s Compensation & Classification Study web page.