BGSU faculty seek 3 percent pay hike

4/9/2003

BOWLING GREEN - The Bowling Green State University faculty senate yesterday passed a resolution asking that full-time, continuing faculty receive a pay increase of at least 3 percent for next year.

Benjamin Muego, faculty senate chairman, said the group has no illusions about the tough times facing BGSU and other colleges these days, but its faculty continue to be paid at a lower rate than most of Ohio's other public universities.

“We felt that the 3 percent salary recommendation that we made is reasonable and takes into consideration the financial situation in the rest of the state,” he said.

The average nine-month salary for a full professor at BGSU is $80,521, ranking it 10th among the 12 public universities included in a survey by Ohio State University in February. The report did not include Central State University.

Full professors at the University of Toledo receive an average nine-month salary of $85,208. It ranked third in the state, behind only Ohio State and Kent State universities.

Last year BGSU gave faculty 3.6 percent merit increases, with some eligible to participate in additional merit-salary pools.

Chris Dalton, senior vice president for finance and administration, said the earliest the issue will be considered by BGSU trustees is June because of the uncertainty of the state budget.

Of the senate's recommendation, Dr. Dalton said: “I think it's reasonable, but it's too early to know if it's realistic.”