State-Gram
A periodic update for faculty from President Robert H. "Doc" Foglesong
October 25, 2007
Salary and department budget increases top faculty wish list
Salary increases would be the preferred use of new revenues available for budgeting next year, according to faculty and staff responding to our recent campus-wide survey, while students would opt for building more parking lots.
More than two-thirds of the faculty and nearly 90 percent of staff members responding said salary increases would be their first-choice use of new funds. Departmental budget increases were the first choice of 14 percent of the responding faculty, following by increased support for conferences and symposia, at 8 percent.
More than one-third of the faculty responding favor creating a Faculty Club with a monthly charge, while similar proportions oppose the idea or had no opinion.
More than 40 percent of faculty respondents favor a tiered evaluation system linked to pay raises, while 30 percent dislike the idea and almost as many had no opinion. Staff responses were similar.
Faculty, staff and students received separate questionnaires, with some overlapping topics. Complete survey results and questionnaires for all three groups are on line.
The confidential internet survey was conducted for the President's Office in September and October by the Social Science Research Center to provide campus input on upcoming budget prioritization decisions. Of the 1,243 faculty members invited to participate, 54 percent responded. Of the 2,733 staff members contacted, 49 percent participated in the survey. More than 16,400 students were surveyed and 21 percent responded.
Thanks to all those who took part in the survey. Your opinions matter, and these results will help us to make better informed decisions about how to make the best use of any new resources that are available to the university for FY 2008-09.
Sanderson Center offers new family rate
The Sanderson Center is becoming more affordable for MSU families, with a new rate of $450 a year for the whole family taking effect on January 1. The family plan rate applies to members of a household living at the same address, and proof of residency is required.
The rate for a one-person membership remains at $297 a year. The $450 annual fee covers a faculty or staff member and partner; a faculty or staff member and one child; or a faculty or staff member, partner, and one or more children. Annual memberships are in effect for one year from date of purchase.
Under the previous rate structure, each additional sponsored family member incurred an additional fee. The new family rate is available to faculty, staff, retirees, and affiliates of the university.
Sanderson Center memberships also are available on a monthly basis or on a semester basis. For more information, contact Assistant Director Patrik Nordin at 662-325-8965, or visit the website for more about what our outstanding recreational facility has to offer.
Congratulations
Lionel 'Bo' Beaulieu, director of the Southern Rural Development Center at MSU, received the 2007 Summit Award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service. He was recognized for 10 years of accomplishments through the Research Innovation and Development Grants in Economics (RIDGE) Program.
Duane Gill, professor of sociology and associate director of the Social Science Research Center, has been selected for the Jerry S. Dixon Award for Environmental Education from the Alaska Conservation Foundation, recognizing his long-running work on the community impact of the Exxon Valdez oil spill.
Distinguished Professor of English Nancy Hargrove received the "Best Article of the Year" award from South Atlantic Review, which published "T. S. Eliot's Year Abroad, 1910-11: The Visual Arts."
Richard Kaminski, interim associate dean and professor of wildlife and fisheries in the College of Forest Resources, has been named a Fellow of The Wildlife Society. He also was recently selected for the Ducks Unlimited Lifetime Achievement Award in Waterfowl and Wetlands Science and Conservation.
Peter Wood, professor and interim head of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work, received the 2007 Southern Criminal Justice Association Outstanding Educator Award.
Cheers,
Doc Foglesong