Members of Ohio University faculty senate passed a resolution designed to reward faculty with real wage increases, citing a decline in many faculty salaries in recent years.
The wage resolution, drafted by senate's Finance and Facilities Committee and presented by chair Steve Reilly, notes that Group I tenured faculty salaries have decreased 1.4 percent relative to inflation since 1998 despite increased research productivity, increased workload and students' strong showings in nationally competitive award competitions.
One of the things Vision Ohio (the university's strategic plan) talks about is attracting and retaining outstanding faculty
said Phyllis Bernt, Faculty Senate chair. It's not easy to do that when you have salaries that are in the bottom ranges.
Senators were generally behind the principle, although several pointed out that, given the projected budget shortfall, the money might come from sources faculty would prefer to remain undisturbed.
Is there any question of financial exigency where a tenure-track position might be eliminated? said Sen. Kenneth Heineman.
The logistics of the pay increase are less important than the message being sent, said Sen. Kevin Uhalde.
Whatever the reality of the money the faculty should say itself that pay raises have a place
he said.
The university is acting on the budget situation by moving to responsibility-based budgeting, a cornerstone of Vision Ohio. The new system is based on allotting revenue to the elements of the university that generate it, rather than referring to budgets of previous years.
The university has paid for programs annually with carry-forward money, which is not accounted for until after the period in which it is used. In more ideal conditions it would be used to fill teaching positions, Ohio University President Roderick McDavis said.
Last year was the first year I really looked at this and said that we can't get where we need to go on carry-forward money
McDavis said. We're living with a false sense of security.
Also at the meeting, McDavis reported a projected $18.6 million deficit during the next two years, although increasing enrollment could ease the problem. The admissions office has received over 500 more freshman applications and over 300 more graduate applications than it had at this time last year, said OU Provost Kathy Krendl.
The enrollment increase brings with it concerns about retention. Krendl did not have exact figures depicting the progress of OU's largest-ever freshman class, but she did say the number of students on academic probation scared her.
In previous senate meetings, there were lengthy debates about how to respond to a compromise between the Inter-University Council and the Ohio Senate mandating that the university review its handling of student grievances about academic freedom. Last night, however, Sen. Kenneth Brown announced the Educational Policy and Student Affairs Committee's plan to leave the current policies alone.
What most of the institutions in the state are saying is that we do have procedures in place
Bernt said.
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