I, for one, appreciate Dr. Brown and Dr. Friedl taking the time to clarify some of the confusion regarding the implementation and awarding of the recent merit increases for approximately half of the faculty on our campus. This email did go a long way towards clearing up many questions I had regarding the process for determing how we got where we are.

I understand the desire to reward exceptional merit.  Haven't many of us been bickering for years about the fact that exceptional merit is often silly anyway because it means almost nothing without a financial reward?  So I am the first person to recognize that a financial reward for exceptional merit is long overdue -- but only after EVERYONE has received a cost-of-living increase.  Furthermore, the nature of these increases in the absence of cost-of-living increases for faculty causes concern.  The average  increase is $1,532.  This leads me to conclude that many faculty received significantly more than $1,532, and others received significantly less. At the risk of sounding incredibly ungrateful, are these paltry "merit" raises worth the ill will, discontent and decline in morale that has resulted?

My two cents . . . .

Joanie Sompayrac


Dr. Joanie Sompayrac
UC Foundation
Associate Professor of Accounting
Assistant Director, University Honors
UT-Chattanooga