By Jane R. Elgass
Senate Assembly members were somewhat supportive of a proposal for University-year faculty salaries to be paid on an academic-year (September–August) rather than fiscal-year (July–June) basis.
That proposal was one of two possibilities suggested by Associate Provost Paul Courant at the group’s Feb. 21 meeting. The other called for payment on a nine-month (September–May) basis. Either plan could be implemented as part of the University’s move to new administrative systems over the next several years.
Most faculty members have a nine-month appointment but are paid over 12 months. Medical School faculty generally have 12-month appointments.
A change to an academic-year schedule for University-year appointments would eliminate the problem of faculty who leave the U-M or who have reductions in appointment terms being asked to pay back some money.
“This situation is always something of a nuisance,” Courant explained, and the change to a University year schedule would eliminate the problem. “Over the next few years, we are likely to see a change in the software we use, so now is the time to do something. It would make life slightly easier, not worse.”
Courant explained that the possible change would not affect faculty who are here, but would be handled through a long phase-in as new faculty are appointed, likely beginning in September 2001.
Newly appointed faculty now receive a paycheck covering three months (July–September) when they begin, and several Assembly members recalled that the large check was helpful in coping with “settling in” costs, asking Courant to be certain to consider that issue when thinking about making the change.
In other business, Assembly Chair Sherrie Kossoudji announced that the March 20 meeting is the annual meeting of the University Senate, at which new Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs (SACUA) members will be elected. (See article on page 9).
Scheduled to speak at that meeting are Larry Root, chair of the Board in Control of Intercollegiate Athletics Committee on Academics and Athletics; Henry Baier, associate vice president for facilities and operations; and Patrick Cunningham, director of Parking and Transportation Services.
SACUA arranged for a selective one-day parking census of several Central Campus area parking structures on Feb. 22. Results of the census will be announced at the March meeting.
