Colleagues in Social Science (email list supressed),

We recently received copies of tables and analysis by Dave Rector in our division mail boxes. I thought I would enrich the context for you somewhat.

-Comparisons to the University of Missouri-Columbia are somewhat tricky and are likely to become more so, particularly when the basis of analysis is "tenure eligible" faculty. From February 22, 2000 statistics reported by MU to MU's Faculty Council, there are 1669 "full-time, ranked faculty" at MU. 904 are tenured; 271 are on-track; and 494 are "non-regular" (not tenure track.) The number of faculty at MU increased by 9% from 1990-1999; the number of tenured faculty increased by .7%; the number of on-track to tenure faculty decreased by 22.1%; the number of non-regular faculty increased by 73.1%.

-Comparisons to MU and other Missouri institutions are somewhat surprising, given that we are so often encouraged to develop other groups for comparison.

-The low increases in salaries for MU this past year are a function of their system wide $400 raise, faculty reaction to which was one prompt for the development of their generous and extensive early retirement initiative. If it is reasonable to believe that many tenured faculty will be replaced by non-tenure track positions, the numbers above will presumably increase.

-Recall that Truman's apparently large salary increase, compared to other Missouri institutions, is partially a function of use of Mission Enhancement money, which was to have our salaries make a significant advance.

-See Table 1, from the American Association of University Professor's web site, which is drawn from the March-April issue of Academe, the annual salary survey issue. http://www.aaup.org/ztoc00.htm *

Percentage increase in salary, 98-99 - 99-00, for continuing faculty, nationally: Assistant Professor 5.4% Associate Professor 4.9% Full Professor 4.5%

Percentage increase in salary, 98-99 - 99-00, for continuing faculty, Truman: Assistant Professor 5.1% Associate Professor 5.3% Full Professor 5.4%

*Most of the AAUP analysis from the salary survey and many of the tables are on line at the address above; we are unable to make the entire survey available on line. The salary survey is a major undertaking for us, in terms of the commitment of staff resources; nationally only about 6% of the profession belongs to AAUP.

David Gruber, President, Missouri Conference of AAUP Member, National Council

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2000