Colleagues:

As I was unable to attend last Thursday's Q/A session with the
Chancellor, and my lengthy questions were probably too much for
Marvin Ernst to ask in that forum, I'd like to pose two questions to
the Chancellor (or the Provost) that I think might (at least in my
mind) determine if we really work as a "team" here at UTC or not.   I
did read in a posting from the Chancellor dated last Friday that with
some money that has recently become available he proposes "..
adjustments for all three employee classification groups for
promotions, equity adjustments, and merit recognition."   In the nine
years I've been a faculty member here at UTC I have personally seen
only one application of "merit recognition" (it was a relatively
small sum, but what I'm talking about here is MONEY) as a result of
my efforts (over the past nine years I have received either as PI or
co-PI 15 extramural grants from Federal, State, or private sources
totaling approximately $465,000 ; I've also published seven
peer-reviewed articles and given 29 presentations at scientific
meetings [many with student co-authors];  and all the other duties
we're supposed to do as faculty).  Thus, when I hear about "merit
recognition" I'd like to know exactly how this system is to work.
Frankly, It appears to me that no such system exists at UTC.  With
our constant need to offer equity adjustments just to stay in the
ball park of salaries at our peer institutions, it seems that any
sort of "merit pay" that could be scratched together would only serve
to heighten animosity amoung the "haves" and the "have nots".  If
there actually is a "merit pay" system at UTC, and the Chancellor
provides a reasonable response to my first question, then I'll sit
down and shut up.  Otherwise, let's not try to imply to anyone (e.g.,
the Governor, State Legislature, or the general public) that any sort
of "merit recognition/merit pay" system exists here at UTC.

1.  Since the practice of rewarding the "value added" nature of many
UTC faculty through their efforts to bring in grants or contracts
that, in part, yield indirect funds (F&A's) to support UTC's
administration appears to be nonexistent (or at least unequally
applied across different colleges), and since the Faculty Handbook
has numerous references to the existence of some sort of "merit pay"
awards for faculty exhibiting "superior annual performance", would
you (the Chancellor) either give us your word to refuse any "merit
pay" award you or any administrator might receive for excellent
performance UNLESS all faculty recognized as exhibiting "superior
annual performance" ALSO receive a uniform "merit pay" award, OR
agree to a re-write of the Faculty Handbook removing any mention of
"merit pay" for faculty exhibiting "superior annual performance"?

My second question offers a hand to the Chancellor (and I'm sure that
most faculty and staff would try to help if a structure of format to
do so existed) to possibly help lobby to bring more state funding to
UTC:

2.  Regarding the formula that helps determine UTC's level of state
appropriations, and due to the many new programs which UTC has
recently initiated that should reserve us a place to eat "at the big
table", what measures are you (the Chancellor) supporting to change
the current formula to increase the appropriations to UTC from the UT
System, or directly from the State?  Are there ways that UTC faculty
and staff might assist you in lobbying our State Legislators, our
Governor, our representatives to the UT Board (Trustees), or the
general public to increase state appropriations to UTC?

Sincerely,

Henry Spratt