FGCU to lift employee salaries to near national averages

Now, Florida Gulf Coast University employees are headed toward raises that will put them more in line with their counterparts at universities across the country.

FGCU President William Merwin told the university's Board of Trustees in a conference call Thursday that he wants to bring employees' salaries within 95 percent of the national averages for their jobs.

The trustees agreed to Merwin's plan.

They also agreed to his proposal to borrow money from ancillary accounts -- such as bookstore, food service and parking -- to fill 27 new faculty and staff positions for the 2004-05 academic year.

Merwin said the raises resulted from employee climate surveys, which were administered to faculty and the other employees a couple of years ago.

"There was some mild criticism that their salaries lagged behind the national averages," he said. "This will help close the gap. I call it salary equity adjustments."

The adjustments will apply to faculty, administrative and professional positions, and university support personnel, which includes all other employees.

The adjustments will put the extra jingle in their February paychecks, said Merwin.

"It will take about $600,000 to do this," he said. "The money is coming from our enrollment growth, which has brought in more revenues."

Provost Brad Bartel, vice president of academic affairs, and Richard Pegnetter, dean of FGCU's College of Education, are gathering information on nationwide faculty salaries. Other key administrators and deans are surveying salaries of the other positions.

The amounts of the adjustments will vary, depending on the positions and other criteria in the salary formula -- and on the nationwide market.

"It's the faculty, staff and other employees that make this university go," Merwin said. "We have great employees. If it weren't for them, this university wouldn't be here."

Enrollment growth is what created the additional money for the salary equity adjustments, and it also created the need for more faculty and staff positions, he said.

Surpassing the target goal of 3,000 full-time students by about 300 this year, the enrollment is expected to go up to 3,700 or more next year -- possibly up to 7,000, including part-time students in the total head count, said Susan Evans, Merwin's special assistant and FGCU spokeswoman.

Merwin said the loan, which will transfer money into the university's general operating budget, won't negatively affect the ancillary budgets.

"The ancillary accounts are in good shape, and they have reserves," he said.

The anticipated enrollment growth in the next academic year has created a need for more faculty and staff workers, and without them, Merwin said, he might have to set an enrollment cap.

"I don't want to do that," he said. "We're going to need more faculty from September through May (2004-05). I want to boldly hire new faculty, and hope the state Legislature catches up."

The Florida Legislature did not allot enough money in the state's education budgets this year, which has left the 28 community colleges, 11 public universities and the public school districts strapped for cash to pay for new programs, new hires and other needs to pay for statewide enrollment growth.

"I realize borrowing money is a bold step, and it's a calculated risk," Merwin said. "But I've got confidence in this institution. We're going to make it."