From the SG President
Mary Powers
Issue date: 11/25/08 Section: Commentary
Dear Students,
I would like to thank Dr. Francis Lazarus for responding to the letter from Student Government. This means that I can finally let you, the students, know what is going on.
In his Nov. 17 response to the SG's letter, Lazarus informed SG of the developments in faculty compensation, the Pharmacy School and the Presidential Task Force.
In regard to faculty compensation, Lazarus reiterated the history behind the situation and briefly commented on the efforts underway to correct the situation. After Sept. 11, 2001 UD lost much of its airline stock, understandably, and fewer international students were able to come to the Graduate School of Management program. "The problems caused by the government's restrictions had an exaggerated negative effect at UD…. enrollment dropped by almost a quarter, and the University's budget, which was already fragile, plunged into a deep deficit," said Lazarus in his response. It was at this time that faculty and staff salaries were reduced "on average" by four percent. The faculty was not given pay raises until 2007-2008, five years later. Since Lazarus' arrival in July 2004, he has "managed to give one-time stipends in December 2004 and December 2005, and a salary increase in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009," Lazarus said. The accumulated effect has been that the faculty is 15 percent behind faculty at other universities and the current standard of living. Lazarus further commented, "the faculty and staff deserve additional pay and that both the administration and the Board of Trustees are committed to improving… compensation." The administration and faculty are currently working toward setting a plan for the restoration of compensation.
The next issue addressed was the School of Pharmacy. This idea arose in August of 2006, with formal approval by the Board in December 2007. The administration has hired a dean, Dr. George MacKinnon, and is "preparing materials for the fundraising effort necessary to procure funds to develop the school." The administration will make a formal application for pre-candidacy for accreditation of the School of Pharmacy in March 2010 and accept the first class in September 2011.
He concluded his letter by discussing the Sexual Assault Task Force that has been formed. They are reviewing the University's policies alongside the policies at other universities. They will make recommendations as to how it is best to proceed in the future. The final report will be submitted to Lazarus by mid-January.
While SG still awaits statistics on the numbers of adjunct professors as compared to past years, SG is discussing Lazarus' letter in hopes of responding to it soon.
Thank you again to everyone, and I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Your President,
Mary Powers
I would like to thank Dr. Francis Lazarus for responding to the letter from Student Government. This means that I can finally let you, the students, know what is going on.
In his Nov. 17 response to the SG's letter, Lazarus informed SG of the developments in faculty compensation, the Pharmacy School and the Presidential Task Force.
In regard to faculty compensation, Lazarus reiterated the history behind the situation and briefly commented on the efforts underway to correct the situation. After Sept. 11, 2001 UD lost much of its airline stock, understandably, and fewer international students were able to come to the Graduate School of Management program. "The problems caused by the government's restrictions had an exaggerated negative effect at UD…. enrollment dropped by almost a quarter, and the University's budget, which was already fragile, plunged into a deep deficit," said Lazarus in his response. It was at this time that faculty and staff salaries were reduced "on average" by four percent. The faculty was not given pay raises until 2007-2008, five years later. Since Lazarus' arrival in July 2004, he has "managed to give one-time stipends in December 2004 and December 2005, and a salary increase in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009," Lazarus said. The accumulated effect has been that the faculty is 15 percent behind faculty at other universities and the current standard of living. Lazarus further commented, "the faculty and staff deserve additional pay and that both the administration and the Board of Trustees are committed to improving… compensation." The administration and faculty are currently working toward setting a plan for the restoration of compensation.
The next issue addressed was the School of Pharmacy. This idea arose in August of 2006, with formal approval by the Board in December 2007. The administration has hired a dean, Dr. George MacKinnon, and is "preparing materials for the fundraising effort necessary to procure funds to develop the school." The administration will make a formal application for pre-candidacy for accreditation of the School of Pharmacy in March 2010 and accept the first class in September 2011.
He concluded his letter by discussing the Sexual Assault Task Force that has been formed. They are reviewing the University's policies alongside the policies at other universities. They will make recommendations as to how it is best to proceed in the future. The final report will be submitted to Lazarus by mid-January.
While SG still awaits statistics on the numbers of adjunct professors as compared to past years, SG is discussing Lazarus' letter in hopes of responding to it soon.
Thank you again to everyone, and I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Your President,
Mary Powers
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