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Regents Push Faculty Pension Plan
By John Peterson
(Editor's Note; This is the second in a series of three articles covering the opinions of the Kansas Board of Regents, candidates for governor and Chancellor Franklin D. Murphy on higher education, its relationship to state politics and the educational system KU will have in the future.)
KU and Kansas State today stand alone among Big Eight and Big Ten schools in not having an adequate retirement program for faculty members.
This problem and two others—the amount of money to be spent on increases in faculty salaries and on the building program — are three primary questions facing higher education in Kansas.
Five members of the regents, Chancellor Franklin D. Murphy and one of three Republican gubernatorial candidates feel that faculty salaries, if the retirement program is added, are adequate if they continue to increase as they have in the past few years.
Dr. Murphy outlined the problem: "The most urgent need at KU is an adequate retirement program. KU stands almost alone in the United States among similar institutions in not having an adequate program and unless it can be achieved quite quickly, KU will not be a competitor for top faculty members."
Murphy Asks Quick Action
Six of eight schools in the Big Eight and all schools in the Big Ten have faculty retirement benefits totaling 50 per cent of the final salary of a full professor. The two schools which do not - KU and Kansas State - have retirement benefits totaling 27 per cent of the final salary of a full professor.
Ray Evans, chairman of the regents and the only member to say faculty salaries are inadequate even with the retirement program, said:
"My opinion is that the salary scale for the various professorial ranks is too low, and in order to retain our faculties at the state schools of higher education in Kansas, we must raise the salaries. At the present time our salaries are below the national average.
"We must be able to pay on the national average if we hope to keep our faculty members. Equally important to salary increases is a funded, contributory retirement program for both faculty members and civil service employees."
Gov. George Docking refused to comment on the needs of the University. His budget committee cut the request of the regents for 7 per cent salary increases to 3 per cent.
The other major problem facing the state institutions is that of having sufficient buildings and facilities for the rapid growth expected to hit college campuses across the nation during the '60s.
Enrollment to Double
According to a survey by James E. Gunn, administrative assistant to the chancellor, the University will double its enrollment to 17,000 by 1970 and to 20,000 by 1975.
Three members of the regents did feel and three did not feel that the present building program is sufficient to meet this surge. Dr. Murphy said an accelerated program is needed and the Republican candidates agreed.
Regent Clement Hall, Coffeyville, said;
"This building program is the least of the emergencies. I say this because, if necessary, buildings can be used a greater number of hours per week, and while that is not convenient and everyone cannot attend morning classes only, this has been done in a great many places.
"If limited funds are available, I would rather double the instructor's salary to expose students to the best teachers available and hold classes twice as long in the same building than to expose a student to a second rate teacher in a brand new building."
Harry Valentine, Clay Center regent, said:
"Frankly, KU is not ready for the enrollment bulge. But I am optimistic
the last session of the legislature. He said that the present increase according to the plan will be sufficient.
that this can be handled by the 1961 legislature. That will not be too late, but if there are delays beyond 1961, I do not believe KU will have room for the students."
Gov. Docking vetested an emergency building fund of $3.9 million at
Top priority on KU's list of new facilities is the building for the School of Engineering and the addition to Watson Library.
Wednesday, May 18, 1960 University Daily Kansan
Murphy Says He Wasn't Chased from Job
KANSAS CITY, Mo.—(UPI)—Dr. Kansas alumni at a dinner here last Franklin Murphy, resigned chancel- night that he was not "chased away" lor of the University of Kansas, told from his post.
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