IU faculty salaries rank sixth in Big Ten

After the IU Board of Trustees four-year effort to increase faculty salaries, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) recently released data showing IU has improved its comparative ranking with other Big Ten institutions. In the 2000-2001 academic year IU was ranked seventh among Big Ten public institutions in average salary levels for full professors, associate professors and assistant professors. Currently, IU is ranked sixth.\nWhen the trustees became aware of IU's status in faculty salary rankings, they responded by approving a budget that increased tuition .5 percent to fund the necessary salary increases. This effort is a continuation of a February 1998 Trustee resolution that announced the university's goal of moving average faculty salaries up to fourth or higher in the Big Ten.\nAlthough the increases have occurred just recently, the university is already witnessing the effect the increase has on faculty retention within the College of Arts and Sciences, a decrease of outside offers proves the effectiveness of the salary raise.\n"We are already seeing impact on the retention front," David Zaret, Executive Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said. "This year, we had a smaller number of faculty that received outside offers from other institutions than has been the case in the last several years." \nThe benefits of increasing faculty salaries are evident not only for current professors, but those professors IU hopes to attain in the future.\n"We need competitive salaries in order to recruit top-notch faculty to the college. We also need competitive salaries if we are to retain the outstanding faculty we have in the college," Zaret said. "The progress that we have made with salaries, last year and this year, will help us with faculty recruitment and retention."\nIU President Myles Brand agreed the salary improvement will better faculty retention and added the increase will benefit students as well.\n"This progress is most encouraging," Brand said. "Our university's academic reputation rests on the quality of its faculty. To provide out students with the best possible educational experience, we must retain our outstanding faculty. \n"Paying competitive salaries is an important part of that effort."\nAssistant Professor of Criminal Justice Leana Bouffard said faculty salaries are a direct reflection of the University's commitment to improving educational programs.\n"Salary is an important piece of what attracts professors to the university. It shows that the University is dedicated to making their programs as successful as they can be and is committed to attracting and retaining qualified professors for those programs," Bouffard said.\nThe 2001-2002 AAUP figures revealed that the average salary for full professors at IU was $94,000, a significant increase when compared to the $88,200 salary of 2000-2001. Associate professors enjoyed an increase from $61,000 to $64,000 and assistant professors experienced a growth from $49,800 to $55,300.\nWhile last year's salary increase was a significant improvement, it was not the ultimate goal for the University and the Trustees. Salary increases will be a continuous effort until IU's salaries compete for the top spot in the Big Ten.\n"The progress we have made with salaries, last year and this year, is but a first step," Zaret said. "IU must continue to improve the competitive standing of faculty salaries.\n"In spite of the progress we have made, IU has not yet achieved the goal of IU Trustees and President Brand to move faculty salaries to the top tier of Big Ten institutions"