fsfaculty: Spring Roundtable

["Delores Hudson" <dhudson@Senate.msstate.edu>]

Authorized by: Dr Nancy Reichert
                        Vice President, Robert Holland Faculty Senate
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Colleagues:

Thank you for taking the time to convey suggestions for Spring Roundtable 
topics.  There seemed to be a recurrent theme in many which dealt with 
salaries, benefits, morale, equity, etc.  Many would acknowledge that MSU 
has repeatedly recruited the best and brightest faculty to fill available 
positions, yet once here, what is done to retain these same 
people?  Therefore, the topic for the Spring Roundtable will be "Faculty 
Retention".

I envision our roundtable discussion to be non-confrontational, yet some 
uncomfortable issues will, most likely, be put forward.  We all know that 
salaries and salary compression will continue to be hot issues.  With 
raises not in our immediate future, it will probably be a minor part of the 
discussion.  What we would like presented by the faculty and administrators 
alike are constructive ideas on ways to support faculty commitment and 
involvement in the MSU community.

Below is a skeleton list of areas that may be discussed:
Faculty Engagement: contribution to the overall mission of MSU and fiscal 
decisions impacting such; shared governance; mentoring junior faculty; 
increased expectations versus reduced resources; morale

Salary and Benefits: versus performance and rank; salary compression; merit 
increases; post-tenure/promotion increases; equity; potential health 
insurance changes

Suggestions: spousal hires; salary supplements; ½ tuition rate for spouses; 
Sanderson Center membership; faculty lounge/club; plus more I hope you will 
provide

Feel free to send me (or Delores Hudson) suggestions for additional items 
that fall under this topic.  Plus, let me know if you would like to 
participate in this Saturday discussion (March 27).  We will need 8 
volunteers from the General Faculty and 8 from the Faculty  Senate.  Thanks.

Nancy Reichert
nreichert@pss.msstate.edu 


Delores Hudson
Staff Assistant, Faculty Senate/UCCC
(662)325-8700