NIU might follow ISU’s lead in faculty pay raises

By Paul Brizz

Some NIU faculty might receive raises if NIU follows the lead of Illinois State University.

According to an article in The Daily Vidette, ISU released facts and figures about a plan which would allow faculty to receive salary increases.

“We are going to do whatever they are going to do, and they haven’t done it yet,” NIU President John La Tourette said. La Tourette was unavailable for further comment.

Funding for the raises at ISU will come from the university’s contingency plan. This contingency plan is part of a $1.3 million university-wide reallocation exercise, said David Strand, ISU vice president and provost.

The ISU plan will allow 212 people to receive monthly pay increases. “Of the 212, 30 will be receiving increases of $200 or more, two will receive $300 or more and five will receive $400 and $500 more. The other 175 will receive monthly adjustments below $200,” Strand said.

The ISU plan will allow upper and middle ranking faculty to receive raises but will not restrict other classes in receiving raises.

Strand said the decisions for individual increases are done first by an evaluation of an individual by administrators in the department, then those evaluations will be sent to the dean of the department. Finally, the report goes to the provost who has the final approval.

Strand said the increases were also based on a salary study for the average salary for an individual’s position. The study compared ISU’s position throughout the midwest.

“All I can say is, we did exactly what we said we would do. Most of all, the amount we have allocated for the increase has exceeded the promised limit,” ISU President Thomas Wallace said.

Eddie Williams, vice president of Finance and Planning, and Kendall Baker, NIU’s vice president and provost also were unavailable for comment.