Following several summers of a shrinking window in which to finalize operating budgets, university leaders announced this week they're changing the implementation date to Jan. 1 for annual performance-based salary increases for faculty, professional and scientific (P&S) and contract staff, and post docs. The intent is to put some space between state appropriation decisions, the state Board of Regents' annual tuition-setting process and the subsequent parameters for employee salary increases. Tuition revenue also is clearer once the fall enrollment count is complete.
The change moves the window for performance evaluations to the fall.
The new timeline won't impact merit staff, whose review dates will remain the same and whose pay increases will continue to adhere to the state's collective bargaining agreement with the Iowa council of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
"We recognize competitive salaries and pay raises are critical to support our talented employees. Thank you for the good work you do every day to advance Iowa State's mission," wrote President Wendy Wintersteen, vice president for university human resources Kristi Darr and senior vice presidents Heather Paris (operations and finance, interim), Jonathan Wickert (academic affairs) and Toyia Younger (student affairs) in a Nov. 17 memo to all faculty and staff.
2023: Transition year
The new timing for performance-based salary increases begins in January 2024. Leaders laid out a transition schedule for 2023 that includes:
- A delay for most faculty annual reviews until fall 2023 (they'll cover 18 months one time) to move the review period from calendar year to academic year (July 1-June 30). The provost will share information about exceptions, for example, faculty in the tenure process. Faculty annual reviews will occur in the fall.
- A shift for staff reviews to fall (September to November) in 2024. Staff reviews that would take place between December 2022 and May 2023 should be held, with a follow-up review next fall (less formal for employees who were reviewed in March, April or May). Staff reviews that would occur in June, July or August 2023 should occur instead in the fall. Reviews already occurring in September, October or November 2023 already align with the new timeline.
- A 1% salary increase on July 1, 2023, for all eligible faculty, P&S staff, contract staff and post-docs. Parameters for Jan. 1, 2024, salary increases will be shared next fall.
University human resources will share additional information with supervisors about transitioning their performance evaluation schedule and other situations, for example, promotions and new hires.
Making salary decisions when operating budgets are clearer
In 2019, the regents began tying tuition levels directly to state operating appropriations, so their tuition decisions awaited the Legislature's adjournment, which sometimes doesn't occur until early June. As a result, processes that took place in April or May now may occur in July or August -- after the start of the new budget year on July 1.
