Faculty receive 2 percent increase

Administrators at public universities received a median salary increase of 3.5 percent this year, according to the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources’ annual Administrative Compensation Survey.

The organization examines human resources management and development in higher education.

Fred Martone, manager of compensation, said unclassified staff, including administrators, received an across-the-board salary increase of about 3 percent from Fall 2004 to Fall 2005. Kent State’s figures are usually near national averages, he said.

Based on calculations by the Stater, Kent State administrators received a salary increase of about 2 percent this year.

The calculations were based on the salary changes for 16 administrators, including the president, the provost, the bursar, the athletic director and various vice presidents, directors and deans.

The 2005 to 2006 survey looked at 211 administrative positions at 1,345 institutions across the country. The Kent campus participated in the survey, but individual information was not available.

Carolyn Pizzuto, vice president for human resources, said raises are based on the amount of money in the university budget and how many people are eligible for raises. She said the university does not keep track of salary increase rates. New hires are not eligible, and people who announced retirements will usually not receive a raise.

“It starts with the budget, and then I have this pool of dollars,” Pizzuto said.

For example, a department could receive a percentage of the budget equaling $20,000 and have to divide that among five managers, she said.

“It’s an art and a science,” Pizzuto said.

The science is accurately counting people and dividing available money, and the art is being able to base the raises on merit, she said.

Unclassified workers, such as administrators, receive a written performance review each year, discussing accomplishments and goals, to base raises on, Pizzuto said. There are guidelines for performances within each pay level, but they are not required.

Contact administration reporter Rachel Abbey at [email protected].