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Mobile Device Stipend

The Hussman School of Journalism and Media provides mobile communication stipends to a select group of employees as permitted by university policy 1269 (Mobile Communication Device Stipend Policy).

These $70 per month mobile device stipends, covering voice and data, are paid through UNC payroll and must be approved by the Dean. The stipends are provided to employees who by nature of their work are mobile around campus and may not consistently be available via a landline telephone and/or who are expected to be available outside of normal working hours to address urgent issues on behalf of the school.

Eligibility

The following Hussman School employees are eligible for a monthly mobile communication stipend:

  • Senior Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs
  • Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research
  • Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies
  • Associate Dean for Development and Alumni Affairs and other members of the Development staff as approved by the Associate Dean for Development and the Dean
  • Assistant Dean for Business and Finance
  • Dean’s Executive Assistant
  • Director of Communications and other communications team members as approved by the Dean
  • Director of Information Technology and other critical IT personnel with the approval of the IT Director and the Dean

As approved by the Dean.

Other faculty members who are approved for a mobile device stipend will be expected to use their allocated professorship funds or awarded sponsored funding to fund their monthly stipend, keeping in mind that federal grants and/or sponsored projects may not be used to pay the stipend unless specifically allowed by the granting agency. Mobile device stipend justifications using grants or sponsored project funding must be approved in advance by the Office of Sponsored Research and the Dean.

Recipient Expectations

As exempt employees, stipend recipients are expected to be available via their mobile device during normal working hours and outside normal working hours.

As required by university policy 1269, employees who receive a mobile device stipend have the following responsibilities:

  • Negotiating and managing a personal cell phone Each employee is free to select the service provider, plan, and features of his/her choice that meet the job responsibilities as determined by the department.
  • Assuming all charges associated with the cellular service and device including lost, damaged, or stolen equipment and accessories.
  • Ensuring the carrier selected has service in required usage areas, such as on campus and/or at home.
  • Establishing himself/herself as the billing Regardless of cost, the employee is responsible for any additional expenses above the university stipend.
  • Maintaining an active service contract for the duration of the stipend.
  • Notifying the Dean and the Assistant Dean for Business and Finance if the eligibility criteria are no longer met, if service is canceled, or when the phone number, carrier, or plan eligibility changes.
  • If requested, employees must provide within three business (3) days of a request from the university’s Public Records Officer, billing statements related to university business conducted with an employee-owned mobile Prior to providing such statements the employee may redact information related to personal calls, text messages or emails. Billing statements reflecting university business must be retained for a period of three (3) closed fiscal years.
  • If requested, each fiscal year employees must provide within three business (3) days of a request from the department chair (or designee) or Payroll Services, documentation such as an annual contract or a monthly billing statement in order to substantiate that the employee’s monetary stipend does not exceed expenses the employee actually incurs in maintaining the mobile device.

Stipend Discontinuation

The Dean reserves the right to terminate a mobile device stipend at any time.

Mobile device stipends will be discontinued when employees terminate employment with the Hussman School. Employees will receive their monthly device stipend if they work 15 or more days in the month in which they separate from the school. No stipend will be paid if less than 15 days are worked in a month in which separation occurs.

Questions?

For questions related to the Mobile Communication Device policy, please contact Mark Richardson, Assistant Dean for Business and Finance, at richardm@email.unc.edu.