An employee of the Kansas University Alumni Association is suing the organization, claiming she is owed back overtime wages.

Lora F. Stoppel, the association’s vice president for donor relations and special events, filed suit last week, claiming that her job was improperly classified as exempt from overtime requirements until June 13, when the association changed the position to a non-exempt one, making Stoppel eligible for overtime pay.

According to the complaint, alumni association officials did not offer to pay back overtime wages, and said it would be “unfortunate” if Stoppel or others were to request that the wages be paid.

Stoppel, who has worked for the association since 2003, is asking that she be awarded back overtime pay she worked before June 13, when the position was wrongly classified as exempt, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit also allows for other similarly situated employees of the alumni association to join the court action.

Other positions were also reclassified around the same time — the suit lists 18 other positions at the association eligible to join Stoppel’s claim.

In the court filing, no reason is given for the association’s decision to change Stoppel’s position from an exempt one to a non-exempt one.

Kevin Corbett, president of the association, said on Monday it was the association’s policy not to comment on legal or personnel matters.

Eric W. Smith, an attorney representing Stoppel, said these kinds of cases were common as many employers have made mistakes in classifying employees. He said they were not discussing an exact financial amount of damages at this point.

“This is something that Ms. Stoppel hopes to be able to resolve amicably with the association,” Smith said.

The case is being heard in federal court in Kansas City, Kan. The Alumni Association had not filed a response to the case by Monday afternoon, according to court records.