Since I was the first one to raise the issue publicly about summer school pay over a year ago, I feel the need to comment on what has been done. Although I opted not to teach summer school this year, I am pleased that the matter of timely pay has been resolved.

But that was only one problem re summer school pay. If I understand the chancellor's message, the other has not been resolved. Apparently, summer school pay will still be lumped into regular monthly pay. That will cost faculty money. The FICA tax deduction will go up and that money cannot be recovered. If the faculty member has disability insurance, the same thing will happen. When I taught last summer, I remember thinking  that it would be nice to get disability pay based on my purported income at the time--which roughly doubled what I really make.

Before last summer, the last time I taught summer school was in 2,000. At that time, they were still cutting separate checks for summer school instruction. And they arrived a few days after the course's completion. I assume that the source of this problem is IRIS. Another innovation courtesy of Big Brother in Knoxville.

Mike Russell





-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Stacy <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] 
Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2004 16:51:13 -0400
Subject: [UTCSTAFF] Compensation plan

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to add my note of explanation and gratitude regarding
compensation plans for this summer and the approaching new academic/fiscal
year.

First, we have been able to correct a delay in paying faculty summer school
pay.  A split of academic/fiscal years occurs in the middle of summer
school calendar.  Payroll in some cases had been delayed into the "new"
fiscal year for work largely or even completely delivered in a prior
academic/fiscal year.  Faculty teaching summer school will now be paid as
follows:

        Faculty teaching AM1 and PM1 sessions will be paid in June payroll.
        Faculty teaching AM2 will be paid in July payroll.
        Faculty teaching AM3 and PM2 will be paid in August Payroll.

I appreciate Richard Brown, John Friedl, Debbie Parker and David Pittenger
for their careful work in making this change possible.

Additionally, I am pleased to confirm that UTC will fund the new University
of Tennessee compensation increases authorized by the legislature and
Governor Bredesen.  The compensation increases will be in two parts.  As
you recall, our university governmental relations advocacy was to expand
the proposed 1% "bonus" to 2% and to expand the proposed 2%
across-the-board raise to 3% across-the-board.  Thanks to Tom Ballard,
Missy Crutchfield, and, of course, Joe Johnson himself the university's
proposal was adopted.

All full-time, regular employees of record June 30th whose performance
review is satisfactory (excluding contract employees, if any) will receive,
effective July 1, 2004, a 3% raise - or $750 - whichever is
greater.  Salary increases will be automatically calculated and applied to
the employee's salary by the payroll office.

Additionally,  on or about October 1, 2004, the second portion of the
compensation increase will be added to payroll.  In general, the "bonus"
for each full time employee as of record June 30th will be paid at $70 per
year of service, with a minimum payment of at least $210 and the maximum
not to exceed $1,750.  The "bonus" is more related to years of service than
previously discussed.  More information will be forthcoming in precise
terms in the Fall.

The delayed implementation of the January, 2004 adjustments remains on our
active "to do" list - pending system approval.  I look forward to being
able to comment specifically on that piece of our compensation plan very soon.

Next week, the Board of Trustees will consider a budget for UTC and all of
U T.  The critical matter for us in that consideration is the amount of fee
hike requested and adopted by the Board.  While there is much better news
on the pay plans than of late, we continue to face budget challenges.  But,
the challenges can await a second memo and a second look.  Today, I just
rejoice with you that a great group of faculty and staff have a
compensation plan that looks better than many can remember for years and years.

Thanks for all you do.  This pay plan is long overdue to truly deserving
people.

Bill