As MSU Denver continues to support Alternative Work Arrangements, a new Human Resources policy clarifies expectations for employees working from outside Colorado while helping protect the University and its employees from tax, legal and compliance risks, supporting operational consistency and helping ensure strong student-facing services.
The Out-of-State Employment Policy, which takes effect June 1 to help ensure institutional compliance, states that employment outside Colorado is generally not permitted because of the significant compliance, operational and cost considerations associated with payroll, tax withholding, labor laws and employer registration requirements in other states.
However, employees with existing out-of-state work agreements made before June 2026 may continue with those arrangements.
MSU Denver is guided by its mission to provide a high-quality, accessible education and to engage the greater Denver community, said Stacy Dvergsdal, associate vice president for administration and chief human resources officer.
“As a public institution that primarily serves Colorado students and communities, our operations, services and workforce are rooted here in the state — helping us work together more effectively, deliver excellent service and stay connected to the people and communities we serve,” Dvergsdal said.
University leaders say maintaining accurate payroll and employment records is essential to reducing risks related to state tax obligations, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation coverage and year-end tax reporting. The policy is also intended to support operational needs while prioritizing student success and reliable service to students, faculty and staff members.
“This policy is really about ensuring we remain compliant with a wide range of state employment and tax laws while also providing clear guidance for employees and managers,” said Charles Kibort, executive director of HR Operations and Strategy. “The University remains committed to alternative work arrangements, and as they continue to evolve, it’s important that we have consistent processes in place that reduce risk, support operational needs and help ensure we continue delivering a strong experience for students.”
Key policy details
- Exemptions to the policy may be considered for some full-time faculty and staff positions on a case-by-case basis.
- All requests for out-of-state work arrangements require review and approval by Human Resources and University leadership.
- Affiliate faculty members may be exempted from the policy with approval from the provost, school or college dean, and Human Resources.
- The policy does not apply to contract workers.
- Employees seeking an exception need to work through their branch vice president and senior HR partner to provide justification for why the arrangement is needed.
- Employees may request approval to work temporarily outside the state of Colorado. Because employment laws and tax requirements vary by state, employees must coordinate temporary out-of-state work in advance to ensure compliance.
- Employees who are granted an exemption to work outside of Colorado, including those with prior out-of-state work agreements, are responsible for travel expenses back to campus for required on-site meetings or events.
- Student employees, temporary hourly employees and senior leaders (roles reporting to the president) are not eligible for out-of-state employment arrangements. Employment outside the United States is also generally not permitted.
Additional Alternative-Work Arrangement guidelines to be updated
The University recently partnered with education consultant EAB to conduct a comprehensive review of MSU Denver’s AWA policy and guidelines. This collaborative work reinforced the University’s commitment to alternative work arrangements while identifying several important updates needed to ensure practices remain aligned with MSU Denver’s mission and focus on student success.
This summer, HR will communicate updates to the AWA guidelines, which will continue to support flexibility while ensuring we are providing student support and excellent customer service to students, employees and the MSU Denver community.
Leadership and information from shared governance discussions helped inform the HR procedures.
For additional information about the University’s Alternative Work Arrangements Policy, visit the AWA SharePoint site.
