UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 35, Page 1
June 25, 1992
Structural adjustments set to appear in mid-July paychecks

     The University's structural adjustment program, designed to make
salaries of professional and salaried staff employees both internally
consistent and competitive with external markets, has been successful,
according to Maxine Colm, vice president for employee relations.
     As a result of this program, initiated in 1989, salaries for both
employee groups have become more competitive regionally, she said.
     When the University recently compared its professional salaries
with those of other Category I colleges and universities in the
mid-Atlantic region, it found the median salary for Delaware
professionals to be at or above the regional median for benchmarked
positions at levels 15 through 19, Colm said.
     Similar findings were found when comparing salaried staff
compensation in levels 7 and 8. At level 6 and below, the University
was not as competitive, she explained, and steps are being taken to
correct this.
     "In developing this year's salary program, the University's
objective was to provide a comparable compensation package for all
employee groups," Colm said.
     The recently concluded contract with the American Association of
University Professors calls for a 4.75 percent salary increase in F.Y.
93 (July 1, 1992-June 30, 1993). In this agreement, .75 percent of the
total salary increase is designated for structural adjustments
distributed by rank and based upon comparative data from regional
institutions.
     Given the competitive market position of senior-level
professionals and salaried staff, she said, the 4.75 percent will be
distributed as follows:

     * A merit pool of 4.25 percent will be provided for all
       professional and salaried staff and a pool of  .50 percent will
       be established based on each group's base salaries for
       structural adjustments.
     * There will be structural adjustments of $375 available to
       professionals at level 14 and below, who are below the
       mid-point of their respective ranges.
     * There will be structural adjustments of $175 available to
       salaried staff at level 6 and below, who are below the
       mid-point of their respective ranges.
     * The professional and salaried staff mid-points will be
       increased by 5 percent and the spread from the mid-point will


     The adjustments in salary in the budget turnaround process will
be handled electronically and will appear in the mid-July paycheck.