Approved by the:

Faculty Senate - February 22, 2001 Administration - See Response* Board of Regents - no action required

* The Administration has publicly stated that University of Minnesota faculty salaries are not yet competitive. The administration continually voices public and private support for increased faculty salaries for the reasons stated in the resolution, among others. The President has clearly noted that it is a priority objective to increase faculty salaries on the Twin Cities campus at a rate above the level of inflation with decisions on use of funding related to salaried to be based on market and merit. This institutional commitment also extends to the coordinate campuses as appropriate. The Administration agrees that the Legislature and the Governor must be made aware that addressing the issue of competitive faculty salaried is of the utmost importance to the long-term economic health of the state, It must be noted that the need for additional state support for faculty compensation is a critical component of our biennial budget submitted to the State of Minnesota. In our effort to promote that importance of the state's support of the institutional biennial budget we have enlisted the aid of key business and community leaders, previous government officials (in particular, Governors Anderson and Carlson), alumni, and current students and employees to take our message to citizens and legislator. The faculty's strong support for the total biennial budget is needed and appreciated.

Declaration on Faculty Salaries
January 10, 2001

The Senate Committee on Faculty Affairs and the Senate Committee on Finance and Planning, after meeting in joint session on December 19, 2000, express their deep concerns about the disparity in faculty salaries between the University of Minnesota and its peer institutions and about the impact of this disparity on the quality of teaching and research at the University. We note with dismay that according to recent AAUP salary data, the University ranks 73^rd in the nation, not only behind most of the top 30 research universities but also behind other colleges and universities whose research missions do not match Minnesota in scale or scope. Their ability to pay higher salaries threatens our ability to remain a distinguished research university. In turn, this threat to the University of Minnesota is a threat to the continued economic well-being of the State of Minnesota.

The disparity in salaries is having a significant and negative impact on recruitment and retention of faculty. All of us on the two committees know of repeated instances where our colleagues have been recruited to other institutions, sometimes to places that lack the intellectual reputation or academic standing of the University of Minnesota. We are also aware of departments that are unable to recruit their top choices for new faculty. These incidents bode ill for the intellectual future of the University.

The University must make a firm commitment to invest in its human capital with the same vigor that it is investing in its physical capital. The recent economic summit made this point clearly and strongly. As officers of the faculty governance system, and on behalf of our colleagues throughout the University, we strongly support the University's biennial request for 4% competitive salary increases for each of the next two years, in addition to the requested 3% inflationary increases. We urge the administration to make every effort to obtain the full increase requested. The State of Minnesota must be continually reminded of the University's contribution to the State's economy. The technology and training provided by the University allow Minnesota to compete successfully in a global marketplace that spans from information technology to agriculture to health care. The Legislature and the Governor must be made aware of the threat posed to the University and must be convinced that addressing this disparity is of the utmost importance to the long-term economic health of the State.

Adopted unanimously by the Senate Committee on Faculty Affairs and the Senate Committee on Finance and Planning January 10, 2001. Endorsed unanimously by the Faculty Consultative Committee January 18, 2001.