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Unpaid Appointments

HR-513 Volunteers and Other Unpaid Appointments | University of Missouri System

Unpaid appointments (UPA) are provided to individuals for a variety of reasons, including access to university facilities or resources or to perform services as a recognized volunteer.

NOTICE: As of 10/1/2025, the updated policy and process will take effect. We will continue to work on any existing unpaid appointments hired previously to 10/1 moved over to correct categories through the end of 2025. Appointments will automatically expire at the appointment end date. Approval is required to extend appointments.

Security Access Needed to Initiate Unpaid Appointment Requests
User must have the appropriate PSHR security roles (Manager Self Service or UPA Initiator)

Campus Process

To get started, you will need to determine which appointment type you’re needing to hire for and gather the required documents to submit this request to your unit’s HR Business Partner. Failure to not include the required documents will result in the eform being denied or recycled for review and resubmission. This process, from start to finish, could take up to 10 business days depending on the requirements needed for each specific appointment.

Step 1: Department Initiator gathers ALL appropriate documents and approvals for this unpaid appointment. The Unpaid Appointee Intake Form will assist you in getting all of the information pulled together in order for you to initiate this appointment.

Step 2: Department Initiator logs into PSHR to initiate the eform through the “Unpaid Appointments” Tile

Step 3: eForms for all appointment types will be routed directly to the Campus Approver for review and approval. Conditional, Education Partner, Emeritus, Visiting Student will automatically be executed into PS Job Data upon the campus approval.

Step 4: Guest Affiliates and Volunteers will be required to complete a preboarding questionnaire, attestation, and criminal background check after the unit initiates the eform. These appointments will receive an automated email from PeopleSoft@umsystem.edu with directions to complete. Subsequently, they will receive a second email from our criminal background check vendor to kick off the Criminal Background Check (CBC) mentioned in Step 5.

Step 5: the Final HR Approver will review each eform for Guest Affiliates and Volunteers and will begin the CBC (if needed), otherwise they will approve and execute the eform to create the HR record.

  • Criminal Background Check Procedure
    • HR Operations will send Hiring Coordinator details to begin a CBC using our current CBC vendor

 Unpaid appointment table

Required Preliminary Approvals and MOUs

  • Unit Approval is REQUIRED for ALL appointees
    • Unit Approval should come from Dean, Vice Chancellor, or Vice Provost
      • If the eForm is not initiated by the supervisor, supervisor approval will also be required. Please CC: them on the Unit Approval Request
    • Email template for Unit Approval Request, please include the appointees name.

  • Research Security and Compliance Approval is REQUIRED for appointees that will be working internationally or with funded research
  • Employer Agreement/MOU is REQUIRED for Education Partners, Vendors, and Visiting Students (if applicable) 

Department/Campus Approver Review

The HR Business Partner for your unit will receive a notification once this is submitted. They will review the answers and determine if the eform can be routed forward or recycled for more information or rework.

HR Business Partners should confirm all necessary approvals are attached to the eform and then approve the eform to move it to the next approval stop.

Guest Affiliate and Volunteer Preboarding Questionnaire
Guest Affiliates and Volunteers must complete a preboarding questionnaire and a criminal background check. These appointment types will receive separate emails from PeopleSoft@umsystem.edu and our CBC vendor with final steps.