Inside Iowa State

April 29, 2005

Budget awaits Legislative decisions

by Anne Krapfl

University budget plans, including a salary increase policy for faculty and Professional and Scientific staff, remain on hold this week, pending funding decisions by the Iowa Legislature for the Board of Regents, State of Iowa.

If the full $40 million requested by the board for its plan for transformation and excellence is funded and Iowa State receives its $16 million share, the university will allocate funds for an average salary increase of 3 percent for faculty and P&S staff, with an additional allocation to increase the competitive-ness of faculty and P&S salaries.

Salary policy and broader budget issues are on the agenda when the regents meet May 5 in Cedar Rapids.

Mark Chidister, assistant to the president for budget planning and analysis, emphasized that budget plans can't be completed until the Iowa Legislature finishes its work. Iowa State leaders have developed a four-year plan to bring faculty salaries above the mean of those at its peer group of 10 universities and bring P&S salaries to levels that are competitive with similar positions in the marketplace. Less than full state funding of the regents plan for transformation would force university officials to adjust that time frame, he said.

The salaries of ISU faculty have fallen below the peer mean since 1999. Many P&S salaries also are below competitive levels. President Gregory Geoffroy has established competitive salaries as a university priority.

The university will fund compensation increases for merit employees as specified in the terms of the recent collective bargaining agreement. That cost is an estimated $2.5 million.

University budget plans, including a salary increase policy for faculty and P&S staff, remain on hold this week, pending funding decisions by the Iowa Legislature.