Budget and compensation initiatives in action
Fiscal year 2027 performance-based merit pool update
As a next-generation land-grant university, K-State remains committed to investing in one of our greatest strengths — our people. It is our faculty and staff who drive impact in teaching, research and engagement every day, which is why recognizing and rewarding performance is an important component of our institution's recently articulated compensation philosophy.
As shared earlier this calendar year at the winter and spring Faculty Senate Open Forums, funding has been set aside for a 2% universitywide performance pool for fiscal year 2027, aligned with the university's ongoing Compensation Study and Career Architecture initiative and the broader Budget Transformation initiative.
Based on calendar year 2025 performance evaluations, eligible employees will receive a one-time, lump-sum, performance-based merit bonus issued as a supplemental payment on Sept. 17.
Colleges and major units are responsible for determining appropriate and consistent bonus amounts based on funding availability. By early September, colleges and major units will notify eligible employees of their unit's specific framework for merit percentages.
For additional information regarding merit bonus eligibility, please visit the Human Resources website (eID/password required) and click on "Eligibility for merit bonus."
As the university continues to move forward on its compensation journey as outlined by the Compensation Study and Career Architecture initiative, rewarding performance is just one piece of the comprehensive strategy we are building. The work slated for the fall 2026 semester under our multi-year implementation plan will contribute toward the critical foundation that supports additional compensation actions, including below-market adjustments slated to occur by the end of the 2026 calendar year.
The university community can expect to hear more in the coming weeks and months in K-State Today regarding what to expect this fall as we continue to advance the university's Compensation Study and Career Architecture initiative.