Veteran's Preference

It is a policy of the University to provide a hiring preference to veterans who possess the requisite qualifications for a vacant position in recruitment and are eligible for appointment.

The University shall grant hiring preference at the time a veteran is in the finalist list of any search when a search is open to any applicant, internal or external.

If more than one veteran is in a finalist list, the best qualified veteran shall receive the hiring preference.

As a general rule, Veterans' Preference is not applied in cases of promotion, or if the position is only open to current employees.

University employees may only exercise those rights for a promotion opportunity if the employee is in a less than full-time regular status, such as temporary, part-time, seasonal or emergency.

Appeal Statement

Not Specified in Current Policy

Definitions

All veterans who meet the requirements under the Military and Veterans Code are entitled to a hiring preference when applying for civil service jobs.  Individuals in any of the following categories are considered veterans for purposes of veterans' preference:

(1)  An individual who served, as evidenced by the veteran's discharge papers, separation documents or statement of service, or hereafter serves in any of the following:

(i)  in the armed forces of the United States, including a reserve component or National Guard, has completed their initial contractual military service obligation and their last discharge or release was under conditions other than dishonorable;

(ii)  in the armed forces of the United States, including a reserve component or National Guard, has served during a period of war or armed conflict as determined by the United States Department of Defense, has completed a tour of active duty for purposes other than training, was released from that period of active duty under conditions other than dishonorable and continues to serve; or

(iii)  in the armed forces of the United States, including a reserve component or National Guard, has completed an initial contractual military service obligation and continues to serve.

(2)  An active duty member of the armed forces of the United States who is completing a tour of active duty that is three years or more and is within 90 days of an approved discharge or release, as evidenced by documentation of the projected discharge or release from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable.

In accordance with 51 Pa.C.S. § 7108 (preference of spouses), the same preference given to veterans under these provisions shall be extended to the surviving spouse (an unmarried spouse of a deceased service member) or the spouse of a veteran who has been classified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs' Veterans Benefits Administration as having a permanent total disability.

Other Relevant Information

Veterans' Preference Procedures