Missouri State board endorses merit system

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The Missouri State University Board of Governors has endorsed a compensation proposal that would replace across-the-board raises for faculty and staff with a merit system.

University President Mike Nietzel said the plan would put faculty pay ranges in the hands of college deans and the provost, and staff pay would be based on job evaluations and labor market data.

The plan came from the university's compensation committee and was unanimously endorsed by the Board of Governors on Thursday.

It would be phased in over a two-year period.

and eliminate the current automatic raises given to about 1,200 staff employees and almost 800 faculty.

Officials argue a "compensation matrix" that takes into account an employee's salary range and a required performance evaluation would give bigger raises to employees who are more deserving.

The current step system would be eliminated in July.

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On the Net:

http://www.missouristate.edu

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Information from: Springfield News-Leader, http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com