University employees won't receive raises for 09-10
Eastern following in steps of other Kentucky universities
Laura Butler and Ben Kleppinger
Issue date: 4/23/09 Section: News
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.
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.
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