University Governance

TO:                 Faculty Senate, Molly Mulloy, Nancy Kinnersley
FROM:           Scott R. McEathron, Chair of Faculty Compensation Committee
DATE:            May 7, 2009
RE:                Annual Report of the Faculty Compensation Committee

On June 25, 2008 the Committee received the following charges.  The Committee held one meeting on November 19, 2008.  The Chair also submitted a midyear progress report to the President on the progress of each charge via email. 

STANDING CHARGES

1.  Monitor the level and distribution of faculty salaries to identify issues and concerns.  Communicate with the Provost’s office concerning faculty needs and desires.  Report issues, problems, and recommendation to FacEx (ongoing).

The committee discussed this issue during the meeting in November.  A concern rose over the long-term cumulative harm that a year with zero salary increases, or even cuts, is to all members of the faculty and also the University.    

2.  Continue the cooperative communication between the Chairs of the Planning and Resources and Faculty Compensation committees to facilitate coordination on issues of mutual concern.  Report issues and recommendations to FacEx (ongoing).

No issues to report.

SPECIFIC CHARGES

1.  Work with the Task Force on Employment Benefits to facilitate collection of data on employee benefits at both KU and other universities, and to share the data within the KU community in order to solicit comments and suggestions from the university community.  Report issues and recommendations to FacEx (ongoing).

The Task Force on Employment Benefits has collected a wealth of information.  The only document that we would like to add is the spreadsheet “Faculty Compensation Request_113007.”  The spreadsheet compares among Big12 Universities the benefits of: family tuition waivers, salary increments for promotion and tenure, how salary is allocated, and compression issues.

2. Work with the HREO, the Faculty Rights, Privileges, and Responsibilities Committee, and appropriate personnel in the Provost’s Office to develop and maintain a comprehensive website including all university-wide employment-related policies affecting faculty, such as the FMLA, tenure clock, modified leave policies, and other personnel policies relating to faculty.  Report actions taken on this charge to FacEx by December 1, 2008.

The Provost’s Office has developed the KU Policy Library (http://www.policy.ku.edu/).  This site utilizes the document management system call Xythos and appears to be comprehensive, well organized, and searchable.  We are also experimenting with the HawkDrive system as a way to more easily collaborate on committee work without having to meet.

3. Review methods and practices of peer institutions for providing a salary increase upon promotion and/or tenure and how those institutions address issues related to faculty salary compression.  Develop proposals for these issues.  Report recommendations to FacEx by March 17, 2009.

See spreadsheet: “Faculty Compensation Request_113007.”  The spreadsheet compares among Big12 Universities the benefits of: family tuition waivers, salary increments for promotion and tenure, how salary is allocated, and compression issues.

4.  Review Initiative 2015.  Specifically, consider “Discovering and Innovating” Recommendation #6 which proposes development of broader set of standards and metrics as the basis for recognizing, acknowledging, and rewarding faculty for discovery and innovation, and “Working for Kansas” recommendation #1 to expand the reward system for service to Kansas.  Report any concerns or recommendations to FacEx (ongoing).

The committee did not review this in any depth yet.  This may be a good charge to carryover into next year.