Tenure track faculty members rejected the administration’s contract extension in a 273-159 vote.

The proposed contract extension included a 3 percent salary increase for faculty, no change to health care costs for faculty and domestic partner benefits for faculty.

The vote, which netted a 72 percent turnout, followed the American Association of University Professors recommendations against the administration’s proposal. In an e-mail sent to all AAUP members and President Lester Lefton earlier this month, the faculty union council said it thought the proposal was a “bad deal” for faculty.

The e-mail said faculty salaries have been falling behind the rate of inflation for years and that the proposed 3 percent increase would not be enough to overcome the growing gap. In addition, the e-mail said Kent State faculty are being paid less than faculty at other Ohio universities.

AAUP last week asked Lefton to separate the domestic partner benefits from the proposed contract extension. Lefton, however, rejected the idea.

Check KentNewsNet.com throughout the day for updates.

– Staff report