Inside Iowa State
February 18, 2000
Salary policy gets senate nod
by Linda Charles
Faculty salary increases would
be based on a percentage of the
budgeted departmental salary increases, rather than the
general budgeted salary increase that is used to figure P&S
and merit increases, according to a proposed policy approved
by the Faculty Senate Feb. 8.
The policy must be approved by the administration before it can be placed in the Faculty Handbook,but Provost Rollin Richmond indicated that approval was likely.
Department-based increases favored
The university each year receives from the Legislature
a block sum for salary increases, based on a percentage
increase. That block is divvied among the various departments
and units on campus. Some areas receive slightly more than
the overall percentage increase and others receive less.
In most cases, the difference between the general budgeted salary increase and the departmental increase likely will be negligible. However, DEOs said it would be easier to explain pay raises to faculty in the context of the percentage allocated to their departments for increases.
The revised policy also calls for faculty to be evaluated annually and rated either "satisfactory" or "not satisfactory." Those rated "satisfactory" would receive at least one-third of the department's budgeted percentage increase. Those rated "not satisfactory" would receive a pay increase no greater than one-third of the percentage of the salary increase.
Senate president Dean Ulrichson noted that some had expressed concern about including the one-third figure in the policy, but added it could be adjusted by the university president, in consultation with the senate.
Ulrichson also pointed out that the proposed policy coincides with the new P&T document.
Input sought on new compensation plan
In a related matter, the senate received a draft of the
compensation plan for 2001. Ulrichson asked senators for
input to relay to the provost. While nothing will be final
until the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, approves it, the
initial policy calls for approximately 3 percent increases
for merit employees, with
1 percent for step increases; and approximately 4 percent for
faculty and P&S employees.
Employee Wellness Program supported
Senators also approved a resolution calling for
continued financial support of the ISU Employee Wellness
Program for an additional three years and a request that
retirees be allowed to use the program.
Data shows that faculty use of the program has been low. Of more than 1,900 people attending group presentations about the program, only 3 percent were faculty. Of the 528 employees who received a personal wellness profile by the end of 1999, only 5 percent were faculty (less than 2 percent of total faculty).
Some questioned whether funds for the program could be put to better uses, especially when Iowa State faces $1.3 million in state budget cuts this fiscal year, and some simply questioned the value of the program. However, other senators touted its benefits and urged faculty to begin using the program.
Update on university searches
Richmond told the senate that three candidates for vice
provost
for research will be invited to visit campus soon. He also
said he is "heartened by the response" to a
new search for an agriculture dean.
The provost noted that preliminary results of a recent external review of the Center for Teaching Excellence were positive and that the final results would be available later.
Student athletes graduation rate high
Barbara Licklider discussed her duties as NCAA faculty
representative and noted that ISU ranks between first and
second place among the Big 12 schools in the graduation rate
of
its student athletes. The six-year graduation rate of student
athletes for 1999 was 66 percent, slightly higher than the 60
percent rate for the general student population, she said.
Licklider also reminded faculty that they should not be contacted by coaches about the academic progress of student athletes. "If it happens, I want to know," she said. "It will be taken care of." If faculty think they have been inappropriately contacted by athletic staff, she encouraged them to let her know.
The next senate meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 7, in 260 Scheman.
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