UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 6, Page 1
October 10, 1991
Professional staff salary study breaks new ground at U.D.

     The University is breaking new ground with its Professional
Staff Salary Adjustment Study.
     Such salary studies have been carried out for the faculty at
the University as well as other institutions, but this is the first
study of its kind for professionals, according to Maxine Colm, vice
president for employee relations.
     Colm said the goal of the study was to look at compensation
for professional staff members within classification levels. A
University-wide formula was developed to analyze salaries and to
flag those individuals whose compensation fell below the norm.
     Michael Middaugh, director of institutional research and
planning, chaired the Committee on Professional Staff Equity, which
was appointed in September 1990 by David E. Hollowell, senior vice
president for administration, and Colm. The committee developed the
formula, which has been applied to all professionals.
     According to Middaugh, University professionals were divided
into groupings: computing, auxiliary and support services, library,
student affairs, academic support, two sub-groups in administration
and employees paid from sponsored research accounts.
     In looking at salaries within groups and across campus, the
formula gave weight to certain variables.
     Classification was the most important of these. Other factors
included level of education, years from highest earned degree, job
experience, length of service at the University, gender, ethnicity
and age.
     Other variables fell outside of the formula, such as job
performance, recent promotions and market pressures.
     The formula has been applied to all professionals. It
identified those with similar demographic profiles and
responsibilities as others, but who are compensated at a lower rate
than mathematically predicted salaries would indicate.
     The names of these employees, their classification levels,
annual salaries, and proposed adjustments were then given to deans
and unit heads. They reviewed the information and made decisions
about compensation based on current performance and past reviews.
Employees were notified of any changes in their salaries by their
respective unit heads; changes will be reflected in their
mid-November paychecks.
     Professional salaries will be reviewed every three years using
the formula.
     Middaugh said a salaried staff compensation study is now
underway.
                                        - Sue Swyers Moncure