Chancellor’s Update: Compensation and Budget News

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Dear Faculty and Staff,

As we head into the spring semester, I want to update you on the latest developments on our budget – including favorable compensation news.
 
Compensation
The state budget includes a proposed pay plan of 4.04% to be distributed in two separate wage adjustments in July 2018 and January 2019. This plan is subject to approval from the Joint Committee on Employment Relations (JCOER). The 4.04% is an aggregate total for UWM; salary increases for individual employees will vary. The pay plan requires the compensation increases to be merit-based. Deans and division heads have been following processes to assess faculty and staff performance. We are working through these steps to be prepared should JCOER approve the proposed plan. UWM will fund about a third of the pay plan cost while the state compensation fund provides the remainder. 
 
To help schools and colleges address faculty salary compression and retain faculty contributing to strategic priorities including maintaining UWM’s R1 status – UWM is allocating up to $1.5M in base funds for faculty salaries in a new Chancellor’s Faculty Compensation Fund. This amount is equivalent to about 2.3% of all faculty salaries and will supplement the proposed state budget pay plan increases. These wage adjustments will be effective in 2018-19. Click here for more details on how schools and colleges will administer these funds. 
 
We also are dedicating additional resources for Teaching Assistant and Program Assistant salaries to support our strategic initiative for research excellence. In addition to a 1% increase in 2014-15 and an additional $692,000 in 2016-17, we are allocating $375,000 for TA and PA stipends. These base salary increases will help attract and retain excellent graduate students. 
 
Performance based funding
The state budget provides $26.25M to UW System (UWS) in future base funds tied to performance metrics. Areas to be measured include retention and graduation rates, the number of STEM and health field graduates, research expenditures, strategic plan initiatives, quality of students’ educational experience and student preparation for life after graduation.
 
UWS has submitted to the legislature a proposal that each institution be assessed on its own improvement versus being compared to a peer or other UW campus. If the legislature approves the proposed plan, UWM may receive an additional modest base fund allocation. We expect this type of funding model to be used more frequently in the future. 
 
2019-21 capital budget
We are in the planning phase for the next capital budget, including requests for: 1) a new Chemistry Building, 2) infrastructure repairs for the Student Union, which would include no increase to segregated fees, and 3) an annex to the Klotsche Center to enhance the sports and recreation offerings to students. UWM’s requests are being reviewed by UWS and will be consolidated into a proposed UWS Capital Budget by late spring.
 
UW Colleges restructuring
Efforts continue to join with UW-Waukesha and UW-Washington County by July 1, 2018. We have established campus teams that are diving into operational details, including the impact on our budget. I am committed to making this successful for all three campuses. This includes addressing opportunities to increase overall enrollments, resulting in more talented graduates for our region. I will continue to issue messages about the restructuring efforts and updates will be posted to the new UWM and UW Colleges Restructuring web site.  
 
I will share more details about our plans for 2018 in my spring plenary address on Jan. 25 at 2:30 p.m. in the Bader Concert Hall of the Zelazo Center. I welcome you to attend in person or to watch via live webcast
 
Good luck as you start the spring semester. Each of us makes a positive difference for our students, whether you teach, research, advise, provide a service or ensure our campus is clean, safe and working well. Thank you for your commitment to UWM and your efforts on behalf of our students and community to advance our research and access mission. 
 

Best regards,

Mark A. Mone
Chancellor
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee