The inevitable budget
cuts recently approved by the North Carolina legislature left staff
members from universities across the state without pay raises and
faculty members searching for means to assist their co-workers.
Faculty members at the University of North Carolina
at Greensboro have united in a fundraising effort they hope will
raise $250,000 to be donated in time for the holidays for their
nearly 1,000 staff members.
This action by UNCG has prompted discussion among members of Appalachian
State University’s faculty senate concerning ways to assist
almost 1,200 staff members in this time of budget crunches and cutbacks.
“I thought it was one of the sweetest things I’ve ever
heard,” said Peggy P. Ellis, chairperson for the staff council.
“I thought, wow, they must have a great rapport with their
staff. It would be nice for Appalachian’s faculty and staff
to have the same rapport.”
Appalachian’s faculty senate chairperson, Dr. Paul H. Gates
Jr., learned of UNCG’s efforts and applauded their faculty’s
generosity. Gates and the faculty senate have not met since learning
of UNCG’s fundraising project but plan to discuss the project,
in addition to possible strategies to aid Appalachian’s staff,
during their next meeting on Oct. 14.
A motion was made, and later rejected by the N.C. Board of Governors
last year, to raise Appalachian’s tuition by $150 to facilitate
staff pay increases.
Appalachian’s faculty senate tabled the motion, citing the
probability that raising tuition to pay for staff salary increases
may cause the legislature to “shirk its responsibility to provide
a living wage to many of its employees,” as their primary reason.
“This is a huge danger that the legislature will view this
as, ‘Hey, they can take care of themselves,’” said
Gates. “It would be a disaster for a sole legislature to adopt
the view that the state doesn’t need to support the public
education system. It is the responsibility of the state to support
its own institutions.”
During the faculty senate’s next meeting, a vote will be taken
to approve a resolution of support for any administrative action
to be taken to improve staff members’ wages. Appalachian’s
faculty and administration plan to discuss the many obstacles preventing
the university from taking actions similar to those taken by UNCG.
“We’re looking at what options are available,” said
Chancellor Francis T. Borkowski. “We’re assuming the [budget]
numbers we have now will stand. We’re trying to see what fund
will be transferable to staff salaries within the bounds we are
allowed.”
In addition to legislative problems, there may be certain legal
issues concerning private faculty fundraising for staff members.
Staff raises only apply to members not currently at their maximum
salary cap, creating an inequity among staff benefits from the private
donation.
“If there were support for doing it, if we were not violating
any university code, I think private initiatives are often the best
way to solve problems,” said Gates. |
