The university makes unpaid appointments (UPA) available to help address a variety of needs stemming from the breadth of partnerships and work performed across the university, such as granting access to university facilities and resources, or to perform services as a recognized volunteer. 

Types of Unpaid Appointment

Unpaid appointments are categorized by the type of role they hold within the organization. All unpaid appointments must adhere to one of these categories and automatically expire at the appointment end date. Each type of unpaid appointment has different documentation requirements in order to initiate the request for appointment. Failure to include the required documents will result in the request being denied or recycled for review and re-submission. Approval is required to extend appointments.

University employees whose unpaid appointment is conditional upon the individual’s paid appointment to gain access that would otherwise not be available through the paid appointment.

Example: MU employee providing consultative work for UMKC and appointee needs access to local university resources 

  • Initial appointment maximum: Aligns with paid appointment
  • Criminal background check: Aligns with paid appointment
  • Compliance training requirement: Aligns with paid appointment
  • Email used: Aligns with paid appointment
Required Preliminary Approval Documentation

Individuals who possess a professional certification or licensure and who have agreed to teach, advise, mentor, supervise or otherwise provide educational opportunities to university students within a non-university organization. 

Examples: Community K-12 teachers, physicians and other professionals providing student teaching, clinicals, practicums or other required experiences outside the university

  • Initial appointment maximum: 3 years
  • Criminal background check: Aligns with employer agreement
  • Compliance training requirement: Aligns with employer agreement
  • Email used: Aligns with employer agreement
Required Preliminary Approval Documentation

Individuals granted Emeritus status, pursuant to Collected Rules and Regulations, Section 320.090: Emeritus Designation. 

Example: An associate professor emeritus 

  • Initial appointment maximum: 3 years
  • Criminal background check: Aligns with paid appointment
  • Compliance training requirement: Required
  • Email used: University email
Required Preliminary Approval Documentation
  • Emeritus letter from provost/chancellor (formatted for ePAF attachment)

Individuals paid by another organization or non-University payroll or unpaid who need access to university resources for appropriate, approved purposes.

Examples: Unpaid visiting scholars, research collaborators, temporary agency hires, university and non-university interns, job shadow arrangements 

  • Initial appointment maximum: 1 year
  • Criminal background check: University criminal background check
  • Compliance training requirement: Required
  • Email used: University email
Required Preliminary Approval Documentation

Individuals who use university facilities and resources to perform their work for a contracted organization, such as contractors, outsourced services, independent contractors and vendors.

Examples: Maintenance contractors, outsourced services, independent contractors with agreements through the Office of Finance 

  • Initial appointment maximum: 1 year
  • Criminal background check: Aligns with employer agreement
  • Compliance training requirement: Aligns with employer agreement
  • Email used: Business or personal email
Required Preliminary Approval Documentation

Students who partake in University of Missouri educational experiences under a formal education agreement between the University of Missouri (host institution) and their home institution (affiliate). 

Example: Student engaged in learning experiences but not enrolled as a University of Missouri student

  • Initial appointment maximum: 1 year
  • Criminal background check: Aligns with employer agreement
  • Compliance training requirement: Required
  • Email used: University email
Required Preliminary Approval Documentation

Individuals who perform services for the university for civic, charitable or humanitarian reasons without promise, expectation or receipt of compensation for services rendered.

Examples: Concert Series ushers, athletic event volunteers and volunteers in various healthcare settings

  • Initial appointment maximum: 1 year
  • Criminal background check: University criminal background check
  • Compliance training requirement: Required
  • Email used: Personal email
Required Preliminary Approval Documentation

infoNew process effective Oct. 1, 2025

All newly-processed unpaid appointments must follow the updated appointment process effective October 1, 2025. University Shared Services will continue processing existing appointments (appointed prior to Oct. 1) to their appropriate category through February 2026. Additional information to come.

Request Process

Follow the process below to submit a request for unpaid appointment. While some appointments may be processed sooner, please allow up to 10 business days for processing.

  1. Department determines appointment type and gathers required preliminary approvals. See sections "Types of Unpaid Appointments" and associated "Required Preliminary Approvals" for additional information.
  2. Department completes UPA Startup Form to provide the following details:
    1. Appointment type, legal name (first and last), start and end date, appointee personal email address, business unit, department (DEPTID only), sponsoring supervisor's employee ID, appointment justification, duties location (remote, hybrid, on-site).
    2. Once submitted, the UPA Startup Form is automatically delivered to the appropriate division processing group.
  3. Department ePAF Initiator creates UPA eForm in PeopleSoft HR Production (PSHR) via "Unpaid Appointments" tile.
    1. Users with the ePAF-Initiator security role will be able to submit the UPA eForm inside PeopleSoft HR.
    2. See UPA Form Technical Guide (PDF) for step-by-step instructions.
  4. HR/Payroll Operations reviews; additional documentation completed if required.
    1. UPA eForms route to campus HR approvers who review appointment type and job code, as well as ensure all supporting documents and approvals are present.
    2. Some appointment types require one layer of approval from HR/Payroll Operations. Types completing university criminal background checks, with rehire eligibility, or where an employee ID is created require a secondary layer of review from HR Recruit Operations.
    3. If a criminal background check is required, pending appointees will receive notification from the university with instructions on how to complete. Individuals must complete the pre-boarding questionnaire and background check documentation before their request can proceed.
  5. HR delivers final determination on request.
    1. Notification approval/denial automatically sent to the sponsoring supervisor.
    2. If approved, eForm will be executed into PeopleSoft job data and a job record will be created.

Questions?

Appointment Type or Policy Requirements

For questions about the appointment type that best fits your need or other policy requirements, reach out to the HR Business Partner for your area.

Find your HR Partner

Unpaid Appointment eForm Process

For questions about the Unpaid Appointment (UPA) eForm process, please reach out to University Shared Services.

Contact Shared Services

University Policies