Overview
At Minnesota State University, Mankato, all positions are designated as either Classified Service or Unclassified Service as defined by Minnesota State statute.
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Classified positions are typically civil service roles—staff positions like clerical, administrative support, technical, and maintenance jobs. These positions follow structured job classifications and salary ranges managed by the state.
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Unclassified positions are typically faculty, administrative, or professional roles. These positions do not follow the state’s civil service job classification system and are instead assigned to specific salary ranges or ranks.
This designation determines the bargaining unit, personnel plan, and other employment provisions that apply to the position.
Learn more about Bargaining Units & Personnel Plans.
Classified Service
Classified service is defined as all positions now existing or hereafter created in the civil service and not specifically designated unclassified pursuant to M.S. 43A.08 or other enabling legislation.
Furthermore, every classified (service) position is assigned to a specific job classification based on the similarities of duties and responsibilities to the respective job class specifications. Job class specifications exist for over 1,300 job classifications. Each class specification is a general description of the kind of work performed by employees in that classification.
Examples of classified service jobs include but are not limited to: Account Clerk, Account Clerk Senior, Delivery Van Driver, Office & Administrative Specialist (OAS), OAS Intermediate, Principal, and Senior.
Classified Job Classifications
Jobs at comparable levels which require similar knowledge skills and abilities are grouped into a single classification. Classifications at different levels which require same type of knowledge, skills and abilities are grouped into a classification series.
Minnesota Management & Budget (MMB) maintains an official listing of job classes and their specifications which are currently in classified service.
State of Minnesota Job Class Specifications include:
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The formal class title of the position
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A brief description of the kind of work performed
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The nature and purpose of the position
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Examples of work
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The knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required to perform the job.
Unclassified Service
Unclassified Service refers to any position NOT included in Classified Service, such as Administrators, Faculty, and MSUAASF positions.
Minnesota Statute 43A.08 defines unclassified service as; presidents, vice-presidents, deans, other managers and professionals in academic and academic support programs, administrative or service faculty, teachers, research assistants, and student employees eligible under terms of the federal Economic Opportunity Act work study program in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, but not the custodial, clerical, or maintenance employees, or any professional or managerial employee performing duties in connection with the business administration.
Unclassified Job Classifications
Alternatively, unclassified positions are assigned to either a designated salary range, or in the case of Faculty, a specified rank. Minnesota State University, Mankato works with the Office of the Chancellor and respective bargaining units as it relates to unclassified position descriptions, placement of positions, salary range, etc.