HATTIESBURG, Miss- State university and public college presidents are asking for additional funding to give pay raises to their faculty and staff– to the tune of $36 million dollars.
“It’s simple,” says University of Southern Mississippi president Dr. Rodney Bennett, “it’s been awhile since we’ve been able to give an across the board increase.”
Dr. Bennett says that though some select individuals have gotten some raises, general raises have not happened, at some places, in more than four years.
“It has impacted our ability to recruit and retain high-quality faculty and staff,” says Dr. Bennett, “if you’re good at what you do… people are willing to pay for results.”
Dr. Bennett says that the funding would not only benefit the staff at Southern Miss, but at all IHL colleges and universities in Mississippi.
“We would be able to recruit and retain increasingly talented people to achieve what we’re trying to for our students.”
The Southern Regional Education Board says that on average university and college faculty in Mississippi make $10,000 less a year than in neighboring states.
