Positions are classified on the basis of duties and responsibilities to classes described in the State of Colorado Class Descriptions (CDs) which indicate: title, general duties, and level of complexity, decision-making, purpose of contact, and line/staff authority. The Job Evaluation and Compensation Unit, Colorado Department of Personnel, and administration, web site contains information about the following:

• Final Class Descriptions (CDs currently in use within the State system)
• Draft Class Descriptions (CDs in an informal comment period)
• Proposed Class Descriptions (CDs appealable by directly affected employees)
• Job Evaluation Letters
• Minimum Qualifications

Assignments may be reviewed for changes in duties and responsibilities which may impact classification if it has been at least 1 year since the last review, or if reorganization within the work unit has caused substantive changes in the assignment. Either a department or an individual may request an audit of a position.

If an employee believes his/her position warrants such a review, he/she should consult with the supervisor and together with the supervisor submit an updated Position Description Questionnaire (PDQ), describing his/her current assignment. Positions requesting movement based upon Staff Authority must submit additional supporting documentation along with the PDQ (contact Michelle Tate for additional information at (970) 491-1794). After the employee's department reviews and approves the submitted PDQ and obtains all necessary signatures, they will forward it on to the Human Resources Employment Office for review. Departments requesting audits of vacant positions or creation of new ones must also submit a completed PDQ to the Human Resources Employment Office.

Once the PDQ is received, a classification specialist will review it for completeness and perform a preliminary assessment of the match of assigned duties to the specifications for the job class targeted by the initiator. Those PDQs that are incomplete or not properly completed will be returned to the initiating employee/department with instructions for correction. Those PDQs for which the preliminary review indicates a possibility of sustainment or lowering of classification will be returned to the employee with a notice indicating such.

Upon completion of the preliminary review, the PDQ will be forwarded for more rigorous analysis as needed by a panel of subject matter experts or verified by a classification specialist. Interviews and/or requests for further information will be conducted with the immediate supervisor as deemed necessary. The review process takes approximately 90 days to complete. The requesting employee/department will receive written notice of the outcome upon completion of the process.

If you would like to download a copy of either the current PDQ in WordPerfect or MS Word format, or the instructions for completing the PDQ, click here.

Salaries for positions are based upon the current classification level. The 2004-05 CSU Compensation Plan can be reached at the links to the left.