University Daily Kansan / Friday, May 1, 1987
5
Fee release, raise approval speaks well for KU's future
Little optimism at session's start, Regents chairman says
By BENJAMIN HALL
The Kansas Legislature's approval of a fee release and raises for KU employees speaks well for the future, the chairman of the Board of Regents said yesterday on campus.
The Regents were not optimistic at the start of this legislative session, the chairman, Frank J. Becker, told about 30 faculty and students at a special University Council meeting.
"what we got done in
Taiwan this year is a sign of better
times."
The Legislature gave final approval Wednesday to a $553,000 KU fee release. It also approved a 3 percent salary increase for faculty and a 2 percent increase for classified employees.
"We're not terribly proud of the year, but we've had a good year in the Legislature." Becker said.
The Regents wanted faculty salary increases of 7 percent annually, Becker said. He said the Regents found little consolation in small faculty pay increases, even though members were aware of Kansas' poor economic climate and low state revenues.
"Some of you may question the Regents commitment to the faculty," he said. "One message I want to leave with you today is that the Board of Regents have had, and will continue to have as our number one
priority, faculty salaries and the equality and competitiveness with our peers."
The Regents recently approved a three-year plan that would put faculty salaries at Regents schools at 100 percent of their peer average. KU faculty salaries are now about 92 percent of the peer average. KU's peer schools are the universities of Colorado, Iowa, Oklahoma, Oregon and North Carolina.
"If we could achieve just the salary average of our peers, it would mean a considerable adjustment for Kansas University faculty." Beeker said.
William Scott, professor of English, told Becker that he thought the Regents should present the Legislature with figures that indicate KU faculty salaries are in the bottom 20 percent among similar universities nationwide.
"Bottom 20 percent sounds a lot more urgent than 8 percent below the peer average," he said.
Becker said universities could benefit from the Legislature's concern for economic development in the state. He said that Kansas Venture Capital, Inc., a corporation created last year by the Legislature, would loan money for new business ventures in Kansas.
"I believe there are enormous needs in these start-up ventures for advice and consultation in marketing, in writing business plans, in
personnel development and in mak ing economic projections, he said.
"I believe there are many sections of this University that can provide their expertise and get paid for it, and additional funds for the institution."
"I think we need to be reminded that most of the support of higher education comes from taxes. Those taxes are paid by people who work, and jobs are provided by businesses and industries of Kansas," he said.
The Regents schools should join the rest of the state in supporting economic development. Becker said.
Becker, who visited with some KU deans before the meeting, also fielded questions and heard comments from the group.
Jacob Gordon, associate professor of African studies, said that few Regents scholarships were given to black students. "I don't think the Board of Regents is even thinking about that population," he said.
Becker told Gordon that the Regents were aware of the problem and were trying to respond to it.
Clifford Griffin, professor of history, asked Becker how the Regents were responding to the idea that faculty members might form a union.
"It's concerning to us," Becker said. "It's not good for higher education. I think we would be disadvantaged in the Legislature."
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