Published: October 09, 2008 11:19 pm            

Raises coming for FSU employees

Initiatives aimed at improving enrollment services

FAIRMONT — Fairmont State University employees will receive a raise effective Nov. 1.

Following approval Thursday from the university’s board of governors, employees will receive raises as follows:

All FSU faculty will receive a 2.5 percent pay raise. An additional .5 percent pay hike will be divided between equity and merit pay for faculty.

Classified staff members will receive at least a 3 percent increase. Those classified staff employees whose salaries don’t meet 100 percent of the Mercer scale will be brought up to 100 percent. The Mercer scale is a pay system based on years of service and job grade.

Non-classified staff will receive a 3 percent increase across the board.

Adjunct faculty will receive a 3 percent increase with contracts executed in the spring semester.

The Pierpont Community & Technical College Board of Governors approved an identical plan last week.

The FSU BOG also approved initiatives aimed at improving enrollment services at the school.

BOG Chairman Andy Kniceley said by enhancing enrollment services, university officials hope to enhance enrollment.

The changes include provisions for five new employees including: a vice president of enrollment services, two new financial aid counselors and two new admissions counselors.

Two new types of scholarships were also approved, one for in-state students and one for out of state.

In-state students can apply for the “Board of Governors Scholarship,” which is a competitive award. Three in-state students will be granted a full ride to Fairmont State.

Interim President Charles McClain said these scholarships would accompany PROMISE scholarships, so the university would be responsible for room and board and a $1,000 book allowance for the three recipients. It is projected to cost about $28,000 a year for the three winners.

Out-of-state students would be able to apply for the “Combined Ability Scholarship.” This scholarship would allow eligible out-of-state residents to qualify for a $1,500 scholarship based on their “combined ability” as demonstrated by ACT/SAT scores and class rank or GPA.

“I think it’s a great beginning,” McClain said. “This has inspired our admissions staff and the recruiters say these are well-received.”

Finally, the BOG approved the timeline for the presidential search process. The Parker search firm of Atlanta, Ga., has been contracted to search for Fairmont State’s new president.

If all goes as planned, on-campus interviews with finalists for the job would begin around Feb. 15, with an announcement of a new president in early April.

The BOG approved the search procedure, which will be forwarded to the state’s higher education policy commission for approval.

E-mail Katie Wilson at kwilson@timeswv.com.

        

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