After Ohio University President Roderick McDavis left Monday’s Faculty Senate meeting, senators argued they wanted a salary increase comparable to his.
McDavis’ new salary will be $415,000, a 9.2 percent increase since his 2008–09 salary of $380,000. OU faculty members are asking trustees to consider a similar increase for faculty salaries during the 2012-13 school year that amount to 9.2 percent more than their 2008–09 salary.
“The goal is to have a parity,” said Elizabeth Sayrs, chairwoman of Faculty Senate. “Faculty has contributed to the president’s accomplishments. I think it makes sense to contribute to their compensations as well.”
Instead of comparing compensations, the senate members compared their base salaries to McDavis’ base salary as a fairer determinant to conclude that there was a large gap, Sayrs said.
On average, assistant professors made 7.71 percent more than their 2008 salaries, associate professors 4.5 percent more, and full professors 5.66 percent more, according to the numbers used in Sayrs’ presentation.
Senate analyzed 2008 numbers because that was the last time McDavis had a formal review from the Board of Trustees.
“It’s a bold, dramatic and a really political move,” said Ghirmai Negash, Faculty Senate committee member. “I am really glad we have this resolution.”
Though many senators were supportive of the resolution, the original wording changed throughout the meeting to reflect faculty members’ interest in preserving strong OU academics by retaining and attracting additional faculty.
An amendment also was raised to remove a clause that addressed the university’s $100 million revenue proposal that, if pursued, will be available next year to be used for seed funding for new academic programs, administrative support and scholarships.
“I’m totally in favor of this, but I keep thinking about tuition,” said Eugene Ammarell, Faculty Senate senator. “I don’t want to have to tell the students we have to raise tuition because of these raises, but at the same time, the president just gets (this raise).”
sj950610@ohiou.edu
Elizabeth Sayrs' original quote, “The goal is to have a parody," has been corrected to replace "parody" with "parity."
