The NIU budget for fiscal year 1991 leaves faculty with almost empty wallets and looking for more stable jobs.

The 2 percent increase in faculty salaries are a harsh reality compared to the 10 percent increase in salaries last year.

“We certainly hope it will not result in faculty becoming mobile,” said NIU Provost Kendall Baker. NIU is doing everything possible to find alternatives for increasing salaries.

“It’s very demoralizing,” said Assistant Art Chairman Jerry Meyers. “The fact that it’s (faculty salaries) so unstable creates a morale problem.”

Jay Wagle, associate professor of marketing, said, “NIU has an apportunity to be on the cutting edge if it had better faculty salaries.”

“My impression is that the provost and president are trying to address those issues and are just trapped in the inability to move the governor and legislature,” Wagle said.

“Higher education is too political and volative an issue in this state,” said Finance Department Chairman Robert Miller.

“We may not lose many faculty this coming year,” but if the salary increases next year are as low as this year, more faculty might leave, Meyers said.

“If it’s a one time situation, I’m willing to bite that bullet,” Miller said. But if next year is the same, he said he would consider moving to a more stable situation.

People in the job market know of Illinois’ reputation for unstable faculty salaries and this confirms that instability, Miller said.

Last year, Baker put into effect a salary adjustment plan to help faculty cope with limited salary increases. The plan compares salaries of other universities to NIU salaries and tries to compensate for the difference based on the faculty member’s performance and affordability.

The plan should increase faculty salaries by .3 percent which enables the university to continue the adjustment plan, Baker said.