LETTERS TO THE EDITOR; FACULTY LEADER SAYS IMPACT EXAGGERATED

To the Missourian:

In an art9icle in the Southeast Missourian on Thursday, March 24, covering tthe Faculty Senate meeting on March 23, the Provost was correctly quoted as saying that under the existing salary plan the faculty at Southeast Missouri State University wanted a 6 percent increase in salary yearly. The current salary plan specifies a 3 percent increase in the salaries of those faculty who are considered worthy of continuing as faculty. Those who have performed at an acceptably high level and have applied will receive an additional $1,000 in base slary.

The average faculty salary this academic year at Southeast is $39,769.75. The 3 percent increase will add $1,193.09 to this average salary. Of the 390 total faculty, 281 or 72 percent are expected to receive the $1,000 addition to their salary. This means an average increase of $720.51 to the average salary. Therefore, a total increase of $1,913.60 or 4.8 percent would occur if the entire salary plan is fulfilled not the 6 percent the Provost cited.

Whenever a salary is increased, the employer also has to pay more in benefits on behalf of the employee. At Southeast, this consists of Missouri State Employees Retirement (MOSERS) Social Security and Medica (FICA). These two benefits cause the employer to pay 17.14 percent more in the form of benefits. The total average compensation to a faculty member is $46,586.28 in the current academic year. With the expected increase in average base salary this total package will increase to $48,827.88 which turns out to be again a 4.8 percent increase in compensation.

Unless my aritmetic is flawed, it appears the Provost exaggerated the impact on salaries of the current salary plan.

TERRY SUTTON

Chair of Faculty Senate at

Southeast Missouri State University