Trustees: Compensation, Construction, Lima Campus

TRUSTEES HEAR REPORTS ON COMPENSATION, CONSTRUCTION, LIMA CAMPUS

LIMA -- The Ohio State University Board of Trustees, 
meeting Friday (4/3) at the university's Lima campus, heard 
reports on faculty and staff compensation, capital projects and 
activities at Ohio State Lima.  The board also conducted other 
business.

Compensation benchmarks presented

In order to reach Ohio State's academic aspirations, 
compensation for faculty and staff must remain a high priority in 
the budget process, Larry Lewellen, acting vice president for 
human resources, told trustees as part of an annual report on 
compensation benchmarks.

"We still are competitive with the market, but too many 
years like fiscal 1998 -- where we lagged behind the market -- 
will make it very difficult to attract and retain the best 
faculty, staff and student workers," Lewellen said.

Ohio State lost ground in fiscal 1998 with just a 3 percent 
increase while benchmark institutions moved forward aggressively 
with an average 6 percent increase, he said.  For the three 
previous years, Ohio State had gained momentum with salary pools 
for raises of 4 percent, 5 percent and 5 percent.

Based on 1997-98 figures, Ohio State's overall average 
faculty salary is 1 percent below the benchmark average of 
$65,170.

Staff salaries for 1997-98 are 1.9 percent below market for 
managers and administrators, 6.6 percent below for professional 
positions, and 9.2 percent below for paraprofessional and 
technical positions.  For clerical and secretarial positions, 
Ohio State is 2.2 percent above market and 10.4 percent below 
state government levels.  

When benefits are included for a total compensation package 
comparison, managers and administrators are 1 percent above 
market, professionals are 3.8 percent below market, and 
paraprofessional and technical staff are 6.5 percent below 
market.  Clerical and secretarial staff are 5.3 percent above 
market, and 10.4 percent below state government.

Since 1994, the raise process at Ohio State has been merit-
based -- dependent on performance, internal equity and market 
equity.

"For fiscal 1999, our competition appears to be planning 
raises in the range of 3 percent to 4 percent," Lewellen said. 
"Current budget projections for Ohio State can deliver a raise 
that is competitive with that