The University’s multi-year faculty improvement plan has succeeded in increasing salaries for continuing faculty 8.1 percent for the 2001-02 academic year, according to an announcement made yesterday by President Hunter R. Rawlings III. The overall goal for the year was eight percent.
According to the press release, endowed college salaries increased seven percent — the largest increase among all 11 peer institutions chosen for comparison by the Financial Policies Committee of the Faculty Senate. Contract, or statutory, college salaries increased 6.5 percent, the second-largest increase in their peer group of 11, surpassed only by Texas A&M. The peer group average increase for the endowed colleges was 4.4 percent, and the average for the contract colleges’ peer group was 2.6 percent, according to the American Association of University Professors’ preliminary data.
“Cornell’s reputation for excellence is built on the excellence of its faculty, and we are committed to attracting and retaining a world-class faculty,” Rawlings said in the press release. “This program is essential to that objective.”
According to Provost Biddy (Carolyn A.) Martin in the release, the University’s goal is to reach the salary average of the peer groups in five years for the endowed colleges and in six years for the contract colleges. The specific goal for the 2002-03 academic year is a 7.8 percent increase in overall continuing faculty salaries. Martin was not available for further comment.
“[Rawlings] and the college deans have demonstrated leadership and a serious commitment to reaching the salary goals articulated by the President–despite the very considerable difficulties they have had to overcome,” said J. Robert Cooke, dean of the University faculty. “Fulfilling the remainder of the multi-year plan will require an even greater effort.”
The endowed colleges now have the eighth-highest average salary in their peer group, ahead of the University of California at Los Angeles. The contract colleges are also ranked eighth, ahead of Ohio State University. Cornell ranked ninth in both groups last year.
The average nine-month salary for all endowed college faculty ranks –$95,833–is 6.8 percent behind the peer average for 2001-02 as opposed to 9.1 percent behind last year. For all contract college faculty ranks, the average salary–$79,636–is 5.7 percent behind the peer average as opposed to 9.1 percent behind last year.
Among the ranks at Cornell, full professors’ salaries are the lowest compared to the average: in the endowed colleges, 10.5 percent below the peer average for full professors; in the contract colleges, 8.8 percent below the peer average. Associate and assistant professors now have slightly higher salaries than the peer average in both the endowed and contract colleges.
Finally, for continuing faculty, average salaries increased 8.4 percent in the endowed colleges and 7.7 percent in the contract colleges.
According to Cooke, the report on the faculty improvement plan was “received with relief and appreciation” by faculty across campus.
Archived article by Andy Guess