2008 Woodie Awards
Some faculty members concerned about adequate compensation
Ashley L. Hopkins
Issue date: 10/12/06 Section: News
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By Ashley L. Hopkins
Editor-In-Chief
Although faculty pay increases almost every year, some faculty members still express concern that the pay raises are inadequate to cover the rises in the cost of living.
The increase for this school year was 1 percent across the board, with another 1 percent dedicated to merit pay raises for employees that met certain standards, according to Richard Brown, vice chancellor of finance and operations. He added that all staff received a 2 percent across-the-board raise.
Even so, full-time faculty receive only about 80 percent of the pay that their colleagues receive at peer institutions.
Fritz Efaw, economics professor, has been at UTC for 18 years. He said he can't remember many school years that pay didn't increase at all, but the raises are usually less than the inflation rate, which is currently about 3.8 percent.
"In real terms, salaries are actually going down," Efaw said. "The Faculty Senate has passed resolutions about cost-of-living increases … but our pay slips further and further behind."
Richard Rice, a history professor who has been at the university for 33 years, said: "Even in good revenue years, the university seldom keeps up with inflation. One colleague estimates we have lost 20 percent buying power in the last 20 years."
About two years ago, Efaw said all of the schools in the UT System participated in a survey and it was found that morale among faculty and staff members was lowest at UTC. He worries that the "lousy pay increases" are part of the reason for that.
Merit pay questioned
Both Efaw and Rice are also doubtful about the benefits of the merit pay system. In a Chattanooga Times Free Press article from August, John Petersen, UT System president, said he didn't think all faculty should get the same amount of money if some were doing better jobs than others.
However, Efaw and Rice said that merit pay should be taken from a separate fund and not from the same money that funds across-the-board raises. They should also be on top of cost-of-living raises, they said.
Editor-In-Chief
Although faculty pay increases almost every year, some faculty members still express concern that the pay raises are inadequate to cover the rises in the cost of living.
The increase for this school year was 1 percent across the board, with another 1 percent dedicated to merit pay raises for employees that met certain standards, according to Richard Brown, vice chancellor of finance and operations. He added that all staff received a 2 percent across-the-board raise.
Even so, full-time faculty receive only about 80 percent of the pay that their colleagues receive at peer institutions.
Fritz Efaw, economics professor, has been at UTC for 18 years. He said he can't remember many school years that pay didn't increase at all, but the raises are usually less than the inflation rate, which is currently about 3.8 percent.
"In real terms, salaries are actually going down," Efaw said. "The Faculty Senate has passed resolutions about cost-of-living increases … but our pay slips further and further behind."
Richard Rice, a history professor who has been at the university for 33 years, said: "Even in good revenue years, the university seldom keeps up with inflation. One colleague estimates we have lost 20 percent buying power in the last 20 years."
About two years ago, Efaw said all of the schools in the UT System participated in a survey and it was found that morale among faculty and staff members was lowest at UTC. He worries that the "lousy pay increases" are part of the reason for that.
Merit pay questioned
Both Efaw and Rice are also doubtful about the benefits of the merit pay system. In a Chattanooga Times Free Press article from August, John Petersen, UT System president, said he didn't think all faculty should get the same amount of money if some were doing better jobs than others.
However, Efaw and Rice said that merit pay should be taken from a separate fund and not from the same money that funds across-the-board raises. They should also be on top of cost-of-living raises, they said.
