Recession impacts payroll
Fisher reacts to unprecedented payment for full time employees
By Alysa Stryker
Last Updated:1:57 PM EST 11/5/09 Section: News
Also contributing to a decline in revenue were skyrocketing health care rates, which went up 22 percent last year. This year, the amount will be about 18 percent.
When the budget was made, attention was focused on tuition and financial aid in order to keep costs down for students.
"We had a very clear purpose, and one of those purposes in the budget was to keep costs reasonable for students and their families. That is a huge foremost thing in our lives, to keeps costs reasonable for our students and their families," Bain said.
Faculty and staff who were upset by the one-time payment expressed frustration with the way in which the decision was communicated.
"I just think that this could have been communicated in a more direct way," said Linda MacCammon, associate professor of religious studies.
Bain said that in the future, he plans to communicate more effectively.
"We have several means of communication, but I don't think it was made clear enough by me and I take responsibility for that," Bain said.
For other faculty and staff members, however, the decision to give a one-time payment did not come as a surprise.
"I don't think it should have come as a surprise for anyone based on the way the economy has been going," said Kyle Reinson, associate professor of communcation/journalism. "For me, after spending time listening to what Bain and O'Neil had to say last week, it became more clear to me that there wasn't much surprise at all in the process."
MacCammon sees things differently.
"I can certainly understand their desire to be conservative given the economy, but I don't think that saying that because the economy's in tough shape, even though we made our numbers, that's a reason to not give us a raise."
However, MacCammon expressed appreciation for Bain's attempts to reward faculty and staff for their work, saying, "It was clear that [Bain] tried very hard to get faculty and staff a raise. He did try. And I greatly appreciate his efforts."
MacCammon said she hopes in the future, faculty and staff will be more involved in the process of determining how they will be compensated for their hard work.
"As they say in the trade, perhaps this is a teachable moment. We can only hope," MacCammon said.
ajs03869@sjfc.edu
When the budget was made, attention was focused on tuition and financial aid in order to keep costs down for students.
"We had a very clear purpose, and one of those purposes in the budget was to keep costs reasonable for students and their families. That is a huge foremost thing in our lives, to keeps costs reasonable for our students and their families," Bain said.
Faculty and staff who were upset by the one-time payment expressed frustration with the way in which the decision was communicated.
"I just think that this could have been communicated in a more direct way," said Linda MacCammon, associate professor of religious studies.
Bain said that in the future, he plans to communicate more effectively.
"We have several means of communication, but I don't think it was made clear enough by me and I take responsibility for that," Bain said.
For other faculty and staff members, however, the decision to give a one-time payment did not come as a surprise.
"I don't think it should have come as a surprise for anyone based on the way the economy has been going," said Kyle Reinson, associate professor of communcation/journalism. "For me, after spending time listening to what Bain and O'Neil had to say last week, it became more clear to me that there wasn't much surprise at all in the process."
MacCammon sees things differently.
"I can certainly understand their desire to be conservative given the economy, but I don't think that saying that because the economy's in tough shape, even though we made our numbers, that's a reason to not give us a raise."
However, MacCammon expressed appreciation for Bain's attempts to reward faculty and staff for their work, saying, "It was clear that [Bain] tried very hard to get faculty and staff a raise. He did try. And I greatly appreciate his efforts."
MacCammon said she hopes in the future, faculty and staff will be more involved in the process of determining how they will be compensated for their hard work.
"As they say in the trade, perhaps this is a teachable moment. We can only hope," MacCammon said.
ajs03869@sjfc.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
William Brown
posted 11/07/09 @ 10:01 AM EST
In reading this article, my first reaction was....
"The Faculty WELFARE Committee?" Who came up with that name? With all due respect to the real intent of the committee, I would suggest a more positive name change to the committee. (Continued…)
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