August 1, 2000



TO:
Academic Health Center (AHC) Faculty and Administration

FROM:
1999-2000 AHC Finance & Planning Committee:
Timothy Church
Daniel Feeney, Chair
Kathryn Dusenbery
T. Michael Speidel
Patricia Tomlinson
Carol Wells

RE:
Merit Evaluation Processes in the AHC Units


In late fall 1999, the AHC Finance and Planning Committee (AHC-F & P) constructed a questionnaire about annual merit evaluation processes and distributed it to all AHC Department Chairs. There were 20+ questions and the full responses can be found at:

<www1.umn.edu/usenate/ahcfp/questionnaire.html>.

We began this process in response to concerns registered with our Committee about both the timeliness of the 7/1/99 salary increases (e.g. when they actually showing up in paychecks between 7/1 and 12/31/99) and the methods used to determine them. After some discussion within our Committee, it became obvious that a wide variation existed in both how the merit process itself was perceived and whether merit evaluation policy guidelines were being followed across AHC Units. On that basis, the AHC-F & P decided to solicit information from all AHC Academic Units. The questionnaire described in the next paragraph was sent both electronically and in hardcopy to the academic administrator of each AHC academic department or division. Before and after the stated deadline (which was extended) for return of the questionnaire, reminders were sent out to assure that those willing to give us a response had that opportunity. As you can see, most of the AHC academic units sent us a response.

Attached is a summary grid of the departmental responses. Also attached are the questions we asked (the numbers on the questions correspond to the numbers in the left column of the summary grid). For clarification, please refer to the complete response listed on the website described above. We will respond to any questions as best we can. Our purpose is to raise awareness about merit evaluation methods and the policies pertaining to those processes. A link to the U-MN Compensation Policy can be found on the Senate website.

If you have comments on this endeavor or suggestions for other tasks the AHC-F & P should undertake, please let Ms. Vickie Courtney in the University Senate Office know @ <courtney@mailbox.mail.umn.edu>.

Thank you for your consideration.



Attachments:
-AHC-F & P Committee Merit Report
-AHC-F & P Committee Questionnaire
-AHC Academic Unit Questionnaire Response Grid