2008 Woodie Awards
Faculty salaries tied into tuition increase
Leah Motz, Assistant Copy Chief
Issue date: 2/27/07
Last Updated: 8/9/07
In a letter sent Feb. 12 to students and parents, Whitworth announced a 5.8 percent tuition increase that will further aid them in staying competitive in the higher education market.
"The tuition increase will go towards improvement of the academic program by providing new positions and improvement of faculty and staff salaries," the letter said.
To evaluate the salary and compensation of faculty, Whitworth uses data collected from 30 comparable higher educational institutions.
Schools include Wheaton College in Illinois, Oregon's George Fox University and Washington's Seattle Pacific University and Whitman College.
Dolores Humiston, Director of Human Resources, said data collected from the 30 schools is compiled in the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources directory.
"We're trying to be competitive in the market where we are located," controller Luz Merkel said.
Multiple factors are considered when deciding an employee or faculty member's salary, benefits and overall compensation.
"Salary grade and length of service are the two influences on salary," President Bill Robinson said.
Tenured positions, office duties, additional teaching responsibilities and leadership positions affect compensation.
Compensation packages are composed of base salary in addition to added benefits the individual may receive.
"Everybody gets a base salary plus benefits," Merkel said. She explained individuals may receive additional compensation from adjunct or overload contracts.
Humiston said individual compensation packages may include medical coverage, tuition reimbursement, life insurance, retirement contribution and grants.
"They get paid for an academic year of 9 months," Humiston said. She said some faculty, dependant on position and responsibilities, are compensated for 10 or 11 months.
"The ongoing challenge of compensation is a real one for the institution to recruit and retain good people," Dale Soden, executive assistant to the President, said.
"The tuition increase will go towards improvement of the academic program by providing new positions and improvement of faculty and staff salaries," the letter said.
To evaluate the salary and compensation of faculty, Whitworth uses data collected from 30 comparable higher educational institutions.
Schools include Wheaton College in Illinois, Oregon's George Fox University and Washington's Seattle Pacific University and Whitman College.
Dolores Humiston, Director of Human Resources, said data collected from the 30 schools is compiled in the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources directory.
"We're trying to be competitive in the market where we are located," controller Luz Merkel said.
Multiple factors are considered when deciding an employee or faculty member's salary, benefits and overall compensation.
"Salary grade and length of service are the two influences on salary," President Bill Robinson said.
Tenured positions, office duties, additional teaching responsibilities and leadership positions affect compensation.
Compensation packages are composed of base salary in addition to added benefits the individual may receive.
"Everybody gets a base salary plus benefits," Merkel said. She explained individuals may receive additional compensation from adjunct or overload contracts.
Humiston said individual compensation packages may include medical coverage, tuition reimbursement, life insurance, retirement contribution and grants.
"They get paid for an academic year of 9 months," Humiston said. She said some faculty, dependant on position and responsibilities, are compensated for 10 or 11 months.
"The ongoing challenge of compensation is a real one for the institution to recruit and retain good people," Dale Soden, executive assistant to the President, said.
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