Bumps for ETSU salaries OK'd at trustee meeting

Yahoo

24-05-2025

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — East Tennessee State University trustees approved salary increases for hundreds of staff on Friday, following similar raises for faculty a few months earlier. The adjustments were made due to efficiencies and market studies showing pay levels are below national standards.
The university said the funds became available in the most recent spring 2025 semester after selected positions were left unfilled and operational efficiencies were identified during the annual Budget Model Update process.
After a study on faculty salaries, the Budget Model Update determined said salaries were below the market targets. In addition, the data showed ETSU has lagged behind institutional peers in faculty and staff salaries.
The average faculty salary of ETSU's institutional peers was $80,518, while the average faculty salary was $71,618. For staff, the peer average was $61,335, while ETSU's staff average was $52,144.
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Of the 639 regular faculty members (excluding those in the College of Medicine, College of Pharmacy, Family Medicine and adjunct faculty), Human Resources identified 388 who were below market targets.
On Friday, 599 staff members whose salaries are below the market range received emails notifying them that their salaries will be increased.
This represents 37% of ETSU's staff (including the College of Medicine, College of Pharmacy, and Family Medicine) and 60% of the faculty. Any salary increases provided will be retroactive to Nov. 1, 2024, or the date of hire, whichever is most recent.
The total outlay of the faculty raises in March was $1.6 million.
To fund the first round of these enhancements, ETSU identified $2 million through vacancy management (select positions being unfilled) and other institutional efficiencies as a result of the Budget Model Update process.
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While the university does not have the means to close market gaps in a year, the pay increase means it has acknowledged the competitive rates. ETSU said it is working to close the margin even more.
With financial positions and enrollment numbers still strong, the gap will be closed through the ongoing vacancy management analysis, which will identify positions not being filled.
Lori Erikson, assistant vice president for ETSU Human Resources, said living costs have helped navigate and maintain university funds.
'ETSU's salaries have trailed those of peer institutions; however, our region's low cost of living helped us remain competitive,' she said. 'In recent years, as the cost of living has risen significantly, the university has made salary enhancements a priority to ensure we continue attracting and retaining top-tier faculty and staff.'
ETSU said it appreciates the Board of Trustees' support and leadership.
'Their commitment to the university's mission and to the success of our faculty and staff has been instrumental in making these salary enhancements possible,' the university said.
Friday's meeting also included the final approval of a 5% hike in undergraduate tuition and fees for the coming academic year and information about the university's upcoming lease of the historic Ashe Street Courthouse from the City of Johnson City.
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