Discretionary Raises (ADI)

The UFF continues to hear reports from faculty that a few Deans and other administrators claim that the UFF is preventing them from giving raises to individual faculty members. Any such claim is a misstatement. As Vice President Ingram stated in a memo to Deans and Academic Directors on February 9th, “pay increases may be given [to UFF-represented faculty] at the discretion of the administration so long as they are in compliance” with the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Section 23.9 of the Salaries article (Article 23) provides for the Administration to give “Administrative Discretionary Increases” (ADI), if funds are available, to individual faculty for the following reasons:

• Counteroffers
• Endowed or named chairs
• Extraordinary accomplishments
• Equity adjustments
• Increased duties and responsibilities
• Other

Although the UFF has the right to challenge any such raises through the grievance process, and to “veto” those under the “Other” category, the UFF has not challenged or vetoed any ADI for at least 10 years with one narrow exception. That exception occurred in 2010 in conjunction with Sec. 23.9(d), which recognizes revocation of the Administration’s authority to grant raises in the first five categories when no CBA is in effect, i.e., after contract expiration. This clause reflects the fact that the Administration’s authority to grant discretionary increases is a creation of our CBA, but that both the Administration and UFF recognize the possibility that “emergency” situations may arise while the CBA is expired. (The “vetoed” raises were approved after the current CBA was signed.)

Indeed, for 2011-2012, the Administration is authorized to give ADI raises totaling up to 0.50% of the UFF-represented (in-unit) faculty salary base, or approximately $600,000. Because of limited funds, in some years the Administration does not spend the full amount allowable. But failure to disburse funds for the above reasons is unrelated to either the UFF position or its past practice. If you are told otherwise, don’t believe it.

ADI Raise Amounts and Reasons in Recent Years

During 2011-12 so far, ADI raises reported to UFF total to over $257,000, averaging about $8400 or about 9.4% for those receiving ADI raises. For 2010-11 the respective figures were $216,000, $7200, and 8.4%, and for 2009-10 the respective figures were $517,100, $12,300, and 14.4%.

The most commonly cited reasons for ADI are “increased duties and responsibilities” (Sec. 23.9(a)(5)) and “extraordinary accomplishments” (Sec. 23.9(a)(3)). These are sometimes cited in combination. Examples of the factors cited in each category are as follows:
• Increased duties and responsibilities: Assuming statewide responsibility for outreach, new administrative responsibilities, directing new grant and its staff, managing specialized center, newly appointed department chair, overseeing doctoral program and doctoral student recruiting, directing new specialized lab, chairing new committee on fundraising and alumni relations.
• Extraordinary accomplishments: Won discipline-based prize recognizing academic achievements, notable accomplishments in donor relations, named as a fellow to a disciplinary society, outstanding teaching, sustained superior research productivity, named to temporary prestigious post recognizing disciplinary accomplishments, Fulbright award.

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