The following massmail was delivered today to faculty and staff across the University of Illinois System from President Tim Killeen:
Dear colleagues:
I am pleased to announce the authorization of a 2 percent, merit-based salary program for faculty, academic professional and civil service staff across the University of Illinois System, effective August 16, 2021.
This program was a top priority in our budget planning to enable much-deserved recognition for employees who received no increases this year due to the financial fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition, our three universities have been asked to establish their own guidelines for separate programs to address compression, market, equity and retention issues. Commitments for existing contractual agreements, promotions and equity adjustments will also be honored as part of this program. I have asked chancellors to monitor carefully any individual increases amounting to more than 7 percent at their universities and I will do the same at the system level.
Pay adjustments for faculty and staff in bargaining units will be determined by negotiations with the bargaining representative and/or applicable contract settlements, and are not subject to unilateral adjustments unless authorized or permitted pursuant to the collective bargaining process.
I hope that the salary program, announced today, serves to illustrate just how much we value your hard work and sacrifice during the ongoing COVID crisis. Thanks to you, a year of historic challenges has also seen one of our greatest triumphs over adversity. You have made the U of I System a model for the nation, sustaining our world-class teaching and research while dealing with the many unique challenges that the pandemic brought to our institution and to your own lives and families.
You are the foundation of our excellence, and I am deeply grateful for your hard work, your flexibility and creativity, your dedication and your loyalty.
Sincerely,
Tim
