University employees won't receive raises for 09-10

Eastern following in steps of other Kentucky universities

By: Laura Butler and Ben Kleppinger

Posted: 4/23/09

Faculty and staff at Eastern received sobering news on Monday morning in an e-mail from Eastern President Doug Whitlock: No one will be receiving salary raises next year.

Whitlock told faculty and staff he will not be able to recommend a base salary improvement for anyone for the 2009-2010 school year. Whitlock said breaking the news to Eastern's employees was one of the most difficult announcements he's had to make.

"I regret it, but it's a reality we're having to deal with as a result of the economic downturn that's affecting the whole country," he said. "When all of the money you're going to have is needed to meet base costs, we had to see the funds for extras weren't there this year."

Whitlock said the 2-percent budget cut and 4-percent tuition increase would only be able to fund the bare essentials Eastern has to pay to keep the doors open, and Eastern can only expect the state funding amount to decrease for next year.

But Whitlock said Eastern isn't the exception to the rule but is following a plan similar to that of other schools in Kentucky.

"At this point, I am unaware of any Kentucky university that plans to provide base salary improvement for the coming year," Whitlock said in the e-mail.

Whitlock said individuals who have been promoted in terms of rank will still receive a raise to the standard salary of their new positions.

Whitlock also said he is aware that this is "significant belt-tightening" but hopes compensation through benefit packages can help some.

"I know that each of you also have fixed and unavoidable cost increases to face at home," he said. "For that reason, we will be working very hard … to maintain and hopefully improve our benefits package."

The Financial Planning Council, Benefits Committee and Strategic Planning Council will be working together to find some possible one-time compensation benefits and improvements to insurance benefits packages without increasing the cost for employees. However, Whitlock said it would be a little while before faculty and staff can see some different options, as the insurance plans continue through December.

And while faculty and staff aren't excited about this news, Mixon Ware, chair of the Faculty Senate, said she feels most employees understand a cutback like this is unavoidable.

"Faculty and staff are not happy about this … we're significantly losing ground, and it's a difficult time for everyone," Ware said. "We're not keeping up with the cost of living by any stretch of the imagination, but the president knows this and is talking with us about this so we can all work together. We know he's trying, but we also know there are only so many things you can do in this economy."

Malcolm Frisbie, science professor and faculty regent, said he thinks Whitlock's decision is a logical one.

"I think that what the president is recommending makes sense … he's being prudent," Frisbie said. "I think he's trying to make sure that as a university we're in as strong a fiscal position as we can be heading into the 2009-2010 academic year, in which we may very well face additional appropriation reductions from the state."

Ware said she is confident the educational mission of the university will not suffer.

"We'll still continue to provide quality education - that will come first," she said. "We've made a commitment, and student success will still be first."