From: Budget and Economic Status Committee

To: Faculty Senate

From: Budget and Economic Status Committee

Date: March 30, 2015

Re: 2014-2015 Committee Report

Committee Members: Chair Michaël Bonnal, Raga Ahmed, Mike Bell, John Edwards, Danny Hollingsworth, Wanda Hunt, Timothy Swafford, Chantelle Swaren, Christi Wann, Katherine Winters, and Provost Jerald Ainsworth.

The committee’s primary responsibilities were to: 1) study and report to the Faculty Senate the financial aspects of public higher education in Tennessee and the prospects for faculty salary levels and raises; 2) examine fringe benefits and recommend changes and additions as appropriate; 3) participate in recommending faculty salary policies; and 4) participate in broader budgetary matters that impinge on the institution’s educational function.

The committee met six times (dates: 08/25, 10/01, 11/07, 11/27, 3/3, and 04/16) during the 2014-2015 academic year and met with representatives from the administration including Dr. Richard Brown and Dr. Jerald Ainsworth.

The main committee discussions focused on:

-  University budget reductions and reallocations presented by Provost Ainsworth;

-  Faculty/staff salary compensation;

-  Faculty bonus/merit policy;

-  Summer school compensation and summer pay cap.

The recommendations of the committee are to:

-  Have a representative of the Budget and Economic Status committee serve on the UPRAC committee (it was the case until this academic year);

-  bring faculty/staff salaries to 100 percent of the current year CUPA SREB 2 &3 averages at each faculty/staff rank;

-  compensate faculty/staff for cost of living increases;

-  compensate faculty/staff for Exceptional Merit.

(Note: the committee will meet one more time after this report has been submitted to Faculty Senate)