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Inside Iowa State, a newspaper for faculty and staff, is published by the Office of University Relations.

April 15, 2005

Council: Compute raises from salary mid-points

by Anne Krapfl

For the second consecutive year, the Professional and Scientific Council has recommended a salary increase policy that would compute raises based on salary midpoints. The intent is to ensure that salaries below midpoint in each pay grade make progress toward the midpoint.

In the fiscal year that begins July1, the council recommends a salary increase of 2 percent of each grade midpoint as a minimum salary increase for employees with satisfactory or better performance. This would mean more significant increases, in proportion to their salaries, for those whose salaries are lower in the pay grade, and lower relative increases for those already above the midpoint. Remaining salary dollars, according to the proposal, should be used to address exemplary performance, equity, market or severe salary compression problems, for example, employees with at least three years of service whose salaries remain in the hiring range (first third of the pay grade).

Council members approved the motion unanimously with little discussion. The recommendation will be forwarded to vice presidents Warren Madden (business and finance) and Ben Allen (academic affairs).

The proposal assumes full ($40 million) legislative support yet this spring for the Regents' Partnership Plan for Transformation and Excellence or, if a smaller amount is approved, supplemental tuition increases by Iowa State to make up the difference. According to the proposal, that translates to a minimum aggregate salary increase between 3 and 4 percent for P&S employees.

Pay matrix adjustments

The council also recommends increasing salary minimums and maximums at least 1.5 percent in the P&S pay matrix. Externally, the pay matrix is used to assess the competitiveness of ISU salaries in the marketplace. For most of the last decade, adjustments to the matrix have not kept pace with inflation rates.

President Gregory Geoffroy is expected to announce later this month an FY06 salary increase policy for employees not covered by a bargained contract.

New members announced

In other business, winners in the March council elections were announced. New members will be seated at the June meeting. The following were elected or re-elected to the council in these areas of representation:

  • Academic and research: 3-year terms: Thomas Hillson, Robin McNeely, Teresa Peterson, Camille Schroeder and Brenda Van Beek; 1-year terms: Steven Kovarik, Julie Sen, and Sue Ellen Tuttle
  • Business and finance: 3-year terms: Dave Brotherson and Michelle Stotts; 2-year term: Roger Graden
  • Extension: 3-year terms: Virgil Schmitt and Margaret Van Ginkel
  • External affairs: 3-year term: Scott Dahl
  • IPRT/Ames Lab: 3-year term: Lynne Mumm
  • Student affairs: 3-year term: Craig Chatriand; 2-year term: Penni McKinley

Voter participation ranged from 17 percent in academic and research, to 34 percent in Extension.

The council seeks P&S staff to serve as substitutes for council members unable to attend a meeting. Substitutes have full voting privileges. Interested persons may contact Malisa Rader, 4-3040.

The next council meeting begins at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 5, in the Memorial Union Gallery. At a noon forum, several recipients of 2004-05 student recruitment and retention grants will present summaries of their programs or projects.

Next meeting

Thursday, May 5
Memorial Union Gallery
  • Noon, summaries from student recruitment and retention grants recipients
  • 2 p.m., meeting