Three Rivers board approves faculty, staff pay increase

Three Rivers College's board of trustees approved increases to faculty and employee compensation at its meeting Wednesday, a college news release said. The board cited cost-of-living adjustments and a desire to bring faculty salaries into line with regional standards, the release said.

The board also renewed President Devin Stephenson's contract for four more years. Three Rivers director of communications Teresa Johnson said Stephenson makes $176,400 a year, an annuity of $7,537 in lieu of medical insurance and a $22,050 housing allowance.

Under his new contract, Stephenson will make $198,500 for fiscal year 2015, and that will go up 5 percent every year of the contract, Johnson said. He also will get a $12,000 annual housing allowance and a $15,000 annual annuity in lieu of medical insurance, she said.

The board approved a 2.5 percent increase in compensation for 197 college professional and support staff, along with a $1,500 comparative adjustment to faculty salaries. The college estimates the increases will add $263,251 to the personnel budget, the release said. Before the raises, Three Rivers spent $13.03 million on personnel, Johnson said.

The faculty compensation increase is based on research done at the beginning of Stephenson's tenure at Three Rivers that found faculty salaries were $5,000 below the state average, the release said. According to the college, the increase brings Three Rivers' faculty even with that standard, the release said. The professional and support staff increase is based on the Consumer Price Index, which measures average cost-of-living prices nationwide, the release said.

Three Rivers also is creating a performance-based pay raise system for faculty and staff. While the details are still being developed, the system would tie pay raises to student engagement, productivity, and success in meeting strategic planning goals, the release said.

Pertinent address:

2080 Three Rivers Blvd., Poplar Bluff, Mo.