Faculty salaries up by lowest amount in 30 years

The average salary increase of full-time faculty was about 2.1 percent during the current 2003-2004 academic year -- the lowest increase in the past three decades, according to a recent press release by the American Association of University Professors. The data was compiled from a survey of 1,343 college and universities across the United States. \nFinance Chairman for the Kelley School of Business Robert Jennings, who has been at IU for the past 24 years, said IU follows the national trend.\n"The past couple of academic years, the faculty have seen a 2 to 3 percentage increase in salary," Jennings said.\nJennings added that, compared to the 1990s, IU faculty salary increases have been somewhat dismal.\n"In the 1990s, faculty saw average salary increases between 4 to 5 percent," Jennings said.\nThe report showed that, of the universities surveyed, full professors earned a 2.4 percent increase in salary or made an average of $88,591. Associate professors' pay increased by 2 percent, or an average of $63,062, and assistant professors saw an increase of 2.3 percent, or an average of $52,788.\nJennings maintains professors in his department receive a salary that is relative to other universities and colleges.\n"The average salary of the faculty in my department is fairly competitive with other schools," Jennings said.\nThe press release also stated the average tuition increases have outpaced faculty increases during the past two academic years.\n"The tuition increases at IU have been bigger than the average faculty salary increase" Jennings said.\nAssistant Professor of Telecommunications Erik Bucy, who has been at IU for the past seven years, said there is an effort to boost faculty salaries.\n"There is an effort to increase faculty salaries and to get them out of the bottom of the Big Ten," Bucy said. "We are not nearly where we want to be yet."\nBucy is a member of the Bloomington Faculty Council and the College Policy Committee, which deals with faculty salaries and the allocation of University budget funds and appropriations.\n"There are good intentions to get faculty member salaries up," Bucy said. "There are many different priorities in the budget."\nBucy confirmed that salary increases are not a direct reflection to tuition and fee increases at IU during the past few years.\n"Tuition and fee increases have not contributed to faculty salary increases," Bucy said, "It keeps the University running. Tuition and fees go to the rising costs of building repair, maintenance and health care. The budget construction policy process is byzantine, so if tuition rose by 4 percent this year and the average faculty salary increased by 1 percent, then there is no direct correspondence. The budget funds are allocated to the greatest needs around the campus. The staff is underpaid, and they should get a higher increase in salary than the faculty."\nBucy insists students are getting a great value for their money.\n"IU is the best value for your money because the faculty is not being paid exorbitant salaries," Bucy said.\n-- Contact staff writer Eric Tash at etash@indiana.edu.