The Observer, November 9, 2007
Volume XL, Issue 10
Faculty salaries not source of budget woes
To the Editor:
Regarding your editorial, "Budget deficit can be easily managed:" While I appreciate that you encourage our community to participate in discussions about the future of the university, I must take issue with your implication that our faculty are particularly highly paid. The rankings you cite from citytowninfo.com compare Case Western Reserve University to all other post-secondary institutions: large research universities, liberal arts colleges, community colleges, and trade schools. Amid that group of more than 7000 schools, I would expect our university to be ranked near the top in every category, from average student SAT scores to research grant revenues to, yes, faculty salaries. Indeed, citytowninfo itself says of this criterion: "Salaries for full-time faculty at Case Western Reserve University are higher than most, allowing the school to afford quality teaching."
We expect our faculty to be leaders in their disciplines and attracting such scholars typically demands comparable compensation. Because of the university's recent financial difficulties, the overwhelming majority of our faculty members have gone at least one year without raises, and in some schools, more than one year. According to federal figures from 2006, faculty salaries at Case Western Reserve University are substantially lower than the median of our peer institutions in the University Athletic Association – as is tuition. Meanwhile, the percentage of undergraduates receiving university financial aid is substantially higher at Case Western Reserve University.
Restoring the university's financial health and raising our academic stature requires participation and commitment from every university constituency: students, staff, faculty, alumni, donors, and other friends. None of these groups should be pitted against the others; rather, our success will come when all of us work together in pursuit of academic excellence.
Barbara R. Snyder
President
