An annual survey recently released by the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources reveals that college and university faculty around the nation are gaining yearly salary increases that outpace inflation rates.
The 2000-2001 data shows the median salary for higher education officials rose 4.8 percent from last year. But the inflation rate was only 3.4 percent over the same time period.
"Institutions are trying to make sure all employees are having increases so that they keep pace or maybe do a little better" than the rising cost of living and inflation rates, said Kirk D. Beyer, director of human resources at Gustavus Adolphus College and chairman of CUPA-HR.
In periods of high inflation, salaries usually do not rise at the same rate, but because inflation is low, officials' salaries can catch up, Beyer said.
Employees holding administrative positions received a 5.6 percent average salary increase this year, the largest increase of all officials surveyed.
Administrative positions have fared well in recent years. This year is the seventh year that the survey has found administrators' median salaries surpassing inflation rates. The results are part of the longest stretch of salary increases in its 33-year history.
Pay for those employed in executive positions increased 4.9 percent, and those in academic positions saw a 4.7 percent raise on average.
College administrators saw the largest increases because they see "more career opportunities outside of higher education than academics," Beyer said.
Beyer said he thought employees often are not able to enjoy all of their pay increases because of rising costs in other areas such as health insurance.
Higher education institutions need to retain administration personnel and provide a little more of an incentive, he said.
At the University, salary increases for the teaching faculty are "partly to keep up with costs of living and inflation," University spokeswoman Louise Dudley said.
Dudley said she thought the highest increases in University salaries have gone to teaching faculty.
Full-time instructional faculty at the University has received larger salary increases than administrative, professional and part-time graduate teaching assistant employees have received during the past three years. For the 2000-2001 year, full-time instructional faculty received a 4.6 percent salary increase on average.
We put "a lot of emphasis on faculty so we can recruit the best people and keep the good people we have," Dudley said.
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| University Salary Increases | ||
| 1998-99 | 3.1% Administrative | 6.5% Academic |
| 1999-2000 | 4.0% Administrative | 6.5% Academic |
| 2000-2001 | 3.0% Administrative | 4.6% Academic |
| National Median Salary Increases Among Universities | ||
| 2000-2001 | 5.6% Administrative | 4.7% Academic |
| Consumer Price Index | ||
| 1999 | 2.7% | |
| 2000 | 3.4% | |
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