Skorton sets 2004 salary guidelines

All University units are expected to achieve an average salary increase of 1.5 percent to 2.25 percent for faculty and P&S staff.

Although the University did not receive state appropriations for salary increases as it has in the past, the raises for fiscal year 2004 will be funded in part through the University’s General Education Fund as well as through funding reallocations decided within each organizational unit.

Gov. Tom Vilsack has yet to sign the budget proposed by the Iowa Legislature, but the University is working with a planned budget reduction of $8.4 million, including $6.7 million from the General Education Fund, says Doug True, the vice president for finance and operations. The Board of Regents, State of Iowa, will consider and formally approve the UI budget at its meetings in June and July.

Discussions over the past several months among UI President David Skorton, the provost and vice presidents, the college deans, and the faculty/staff budget committee produced a set of budget principles and salary guidelines released last month by Skorton. The document reiterates the University’s commitment to salary and benefits support, student financial aid, library acquisitions, and the four-year graduation plan, and provides principles for individual units preparing budgets.

“After consultation, the president has set the overall budget direction by documenting the revenue picture and drawing up budget principles,” True says. “As for salaries, this year college deans and department administrators will have latitude to make their own judgments within the policies set by the president. It’s important to keep in mind that the 1.5 to 2.25 range is for major unit averages—not everyone will be in that range.”

Increases should be based on performance. Administrators must get prior approval for salary increments outside a 0 to 8 percent range. Layoffs and furloughs may be implemented when and to the degree necessary, although the guidelines state that such decisions also must receive prior approval from central administration.

The fourth consecutive year of cuts in state allocations is difficult, True says, and although increased tuition revenue helps, the ramifications will be evident on campus through reduced building repairs, larger classes, and fewer faculty and staff supported by the General Education Fund.

“This is the first year that state appropriations are less than half of the University’s overall General Education Fund budget.”

Skorton’s budget principles and salary guidelines are available on-line at www.uiowa.edu/president/Messages/FY04_budget_salary_051603.htm.

by Sara Epstein Moninger