May 19, 2022
President Linton announces plan for compensation increases
Submitted by President Richard Linton
Dear faculty and staff,
At our recent spring open forums, I identified several challenges and opportunities that I believe to be critically important to the success of our great university. I spoke of increasing our enrollment, enhancing our research impact, stimulating economic development, optimizing student success and support systems, addressing our facility needs, reaching new heights in our fundraising efforts, and reengaging with our surrounding communities. An important foundation to accomplishing all of this important work is you, our faculty and staff — and investing in our people is exactly what we’re going to do to lay the strongest foundation possible.
Today I am announcing a significant first step toward improving salaries. For FY 2023, we are implementing a 2% across-the-board increase for benefits-eligible faculty, unclassified and university support staff hired on or before Dec. 1, 2021. Additionally, benefits-eligible faculty and staff will also be eligible for merit raises based on recent performance evaluations for the calendar year 2021, which are made possible with university funding that will support an additional 3% merit pool allocation provided to university units. These investments are in addition to funding provided for increased employer fringe benefits costs, faculty promotions, professorial performance awards and Total Rewards adjustments for under-market staff salaries. In total, this marks a $13,041,436 investment in our people for FY 2023.
This significant investment is made possible by state funding recommended by Governor Kelly and appropriated by the Kansas Legislature, savings created through the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program, and internal reallocation of funds. By supplementing the state funding with additional university funds in support of merit, we are able to implement this multi-pronged compensation plan that reflects our overall commitment to improving faculty and staff salaries.
Individual salary increases will be reflected in FY 2023 contracts, which will be issued in early June. Once the Kansas Board of Regents completes its deliberations in June, I will also share additional information regarding our final FY 2023 budget.
For now, I want to thank every one of you for what you do each day to make this institution the nationally acclaimed university we all love. Investments like these are what will continue to move us into the future, and I look forward to working together to achieve the goals that will propel us forward as the nation’s premier next-generation land-grant university.
Go ‘Cats!
Richard Linton
President