The day after Gov. Mark R. Warner announced sweeping budget cuts across the Commonwealth last Wednesday, the State Council on Higher Education of Virginia called for faculty pay raises at state colleges and universities.
"The council recognizes that this is an extremely difficult financial time for the state," said Frances Bradford, acting director for communications and government relations at SCHEV.
Bradford emphasized that SCHEV considers teaching a "core function" of the state.
"In order to have quality teaching you need quality faculty, and in order to have quality faculty you need competitive salaries," she said.
University President John T. Casteen III said the University is "seriously concerned" about losing professors as a result of budget cuts.
"SCHEV is right about this," he said.
Colette Sheehy, University vice president for management and budget, said she expects Warner will eliminate the $100 million the University previously slated for faculty raises when he announces further details of the state budget plan on Dec. 20.
Were this to happen, next year would be the third consecutive year without a base salary increase for University faculty.
Department chairs across the College expressed concern over the implications of the dearth in pay raises.
"If we go another two years [without a salary increase] we will absolutely lose faculty," Chemistry Dept. Chairman Timothy MacDonald said.
Politics Dept. Chairman Robert Fatton agreed that without pay raises, faculty members will consider leaving.
"There is a real problem," he said. "If next year the salary freeze continues, faculty will start looking elsewhere."
Psychology Dept. Chair Timothy Wilson said the budget cuts already have negatively affected the atmosphere of his department.
"Morale is getting lower [among faculty members] as these cuts take place," Wilson said. He added that so far faculty attrition has not been a problem for his department, but he is worried about the future.
College Dean Edward L. Ayers echoed Wilson's sentiments.
"We are indeed worried about losing faculty to other places, though we have been able to keep most of those who have received outside offers," he said. "The biggest problem right now is the loss of morale and loyalty of people who have given so much to the College."
The Board of Visitors could authorize a pay raise for faculty, but it is unlikely, Sheehy said.
"It's really a substantial undertaking," she said, noting that a salary increase would require a permanent annual addition to University expenditures.
The Commonwealth also is unable to fund a faculty salary increase, according to officials in Warner's office.
"It is true that college and university faculties are not going to be getting a pay raise for a couple years," said Peter Blake, Warner's deputy secretary of education.
Blake acknowledged the risk of losing faculty to better-funded universities.
He also said, however, that instituting faculty pay raises would require substantial cuts to other state agencies that are in equally needy situations.
"This is a very difficult budget time," Blake said.
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