I want to thank all of you who responded to my message about rankings. Your views were helpful, and judging by the responses, you believe that e-mail messages work. Today I'd like to talk about salary recommendations.
A number of people have asked me about the Regents salary request for next year. The Kansas budget system for Board of Regents universities is very complex, and I hope it will be made simpler.
Until then, let me explain the Board of Regents salary recommendation. "Unclassified staff" is a state category that includes both faculty and salaried staff (meaning those not paid by the hour, although a few unclassified staff at KU are hourly employees).
The Kansas Board of Regents has recommended to the Governor and the legislature that all unclassified staff receive an 8.2 percent salary increase for next year. This does not guarantee we will receive that amount, but we seek that increase.
I recommended, along with other Regents' presidents, that unclassified staff and faculty NOT be separated in this 8.2 percent salary recommendation, as was done last year when non-faculty unclassified staff received, on average, 2.5 percent and faculty received over 5percent.
If the Governor and the legislature adopt that recommendation, both unclassified staff and faculty will receive the same increase, which we hope is 8.2 percent. Even if it is less than 8.2 percent, my recommendation, and that of the Board of Regents, is still that ALL unclassified staff receive the SAME increase.
It was erroneously reported in the UDK that I recommended an 8.2 percent increase for my own salary. The facts are that (1) only the Board of Regents makes recommendations on salaries for the presidents and chancellor, and (2) last year I received the same percentage increase as unclassified staff-2.5 percent.
I know that the state system is confusing. Classified staff members are considered state employees rather than university employees, and the Board of Regents is not permitted to make a recommendation on classified salaries. Nevertheless, I will be vocal in my support for increased salaries for classified staff, as well.
I hope this clarifies things. And I hope all of you have a happy Thanksgiving with your families. We have much to be thankful for and we can give others much joy during this holiday season.
P.S. Thanks for your responses about staff salaries. I especially appreciated hearing from classified staff, and I will plan a future Monday memo about the classified system.
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