Twice a year, AAUP updates a database of salaries. We use the budget books in the library and compare the data with the online source.https://www.tntech.edu/hr/salaries

We started this database in 2012. Every year, we add new hires and we observe pay raises. The link below shows pay data from 2012-February 2018.

TTU Salaries updated February 2018

TTU-Salaries-updated-October-2018-1-1

October 17, 2018

Letter to the editor

Two years after administering its 2016 faculty opinion survey the TTU chapter of the American Association of University Professors has now released the results of its second faculty survey.  Much like the first one, the 2018 survey finds that faculty members at TTU believe that they and their students are poorly led and served by the current administration and our Board of Trustees.  The survey was distributed to 421 full-time faculty and we received replies from 137 individuals for a response rate of 32.5%; very good for such surveys. [To see the entire survey, go to: https://sites.tntech.edu/aaup/].  To nearly every question posed, between two thirds and three quarters of respondents were ‘somewhat dissatisfied’ or ‘very dissatisfied’ with: [1] the manner in which administrators were hired (73% dissatisfied); [2] the level of satisfaction with shared governance (74.4% dissatisfied); [3] the composition of the TTU Board of Trustees (62% dissatisfied); [4] confidence that the Board of Trustees acts in the best interests of the students (73% answered ‘no’); [5] confidence in the manner in which the administration has upheld its responsibilities (79.6% answered ‘no’); and [6] faculty confidence in President Phil Oldham as an administrator (58.4% said ‘no’) while 65% were dissatisfied with Oldham’s ‘job performance’.

These dismal numbers should come as a surprise to no one who has followed recent events at TTU.  The administration and the Board have routinely ignored the TTU faculty and the tradition of shared governance by acting in an authoritarian and dismissive manner.  The Board, with a silent Oldham at their side, has together suggested that the TTU faculty is composed of lazy shirkers who may not deserve even a cost of living increase or the traditional protection of tenure and academic independence.  On the other hand, the Board falls head- over-heels to grant Oldham an extended job contract, recurring double digit salary increases, and, most recently, a five figure bonus.  What has this beneficence purchased?  TTU’s continued flat or falling student enrollment;  recurring fiscal shortfalls (we’ve just learned of a $2.5 million deficit resulting in academic hiring freezes and staff firings that have already begun);  multiple, failed business ventures at a nominally non-profit institution; and the infamous TTU/Fitzgerald scandal (for which we still await the outcome of an investigation).  No wonder the faculty has given a vote of ‘no confidence’ in Oldham’s and the Board’s performance.

Jon Jonakin, TTU Emeritus Professor of Economics

AAUP survey: Faculty lacks confidence in Oldham, Tech administration

A survey conducted by Tech’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors reveals nearly 42 percent of respondents are “Very dissatisfied” with President Phil Oldham’s job performance. Data obtained from Tech’s AAUP blog

Tenured faculty overwhelmingly lack confidence in the school’s current administration including President Phil Oldham, according to a survey conducted by Tech’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors.

The respondents also reported being dissatisfied with the composition of the board of trustees and its decision-making process. Seventy-three percent of respondents said the board does not act in the best interest of students, according to the survey released this week.

Nearly 80 percent of respondents said they are dissatisfied with the way administrators performed their jobs, according to the survey.

The AAUP serves as a watchdog on college campuses across the nation. The AAUP surveyed full-time faculty at the end of the spring semester in order to gauge satisfaction and confidence with the Tech board of trustees and of the Tech administration.

Of the 421 questionnaires distributed, 137 were returned. Ninety-eight respondents are tenured, 22 are on tenure track, and 12 are non-tenure track. Five respondents did not indicate their faculty rank.

Oldham came under fire in the spring during an investigation conducted by Tech officials about a study conducted for the Fitzgerald Glider Kit. The issue drew protests from students and faculty members.

“As an alumnus of Tech, I am concerned about the future of Tennessee Tech under the current administration,” Rachael Robinson said in a comment on Tech’s AAUP blog.

Earlier this semester, the board approved a 2 percent salary increase for Oldham and a $60,000 performance bonus.

Sixty-five percent of respondents said they are dissatisfied with Oldham’s job performance, and 60 percent lack confidence in him as an administrator.

Oldham said he plans to continue meeting with faculty and address any concerns they may have.

“As I regularly meet with the Faculty Senate and talk to faculty members across campus, I am encouraged that all of us share a common goal: to make a stronger university to better serve the students who have selected Tech to be their collegiate home,” Oldham said in a written statement to The Oracle.

Other findings from the survey:

• Seventy-three percent of respondents said they are dissatisfied with the hiring of administrators.
• Nearly 60 percent of respondents are dissatisfied with decisions made about campus buildings and grounds.
• Over 40 percent of respondents are dissatisfied with the protection of free speech on campus.
• Nearly 75 percent of respondents are dissatisfied with shared governance.

“I greatly appreciate the faculty at Tech and the job they do to serve and educate our students. As always, I remain committed to putting students first and creating the best university and educational experience for our students,” Oldham said.

Autumn Tinch contributed to this story.

http://www.tntechoracle.com/news/view.php/1035259/AAUP-survey-Faculty-lacks-confidence-in-?fbclid=IwAR0Ek1ikmNt78l3CPkuR8pNSP975Nff9uWS0nnBdYDMRXxiGujkHwOMIhNo

2018 TTU Faculty Survey Document

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS: TTU CHAPTER

 CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

 [Revisions by Mr. Andrew William Smith, Dr. Patrick Reagan, and Ms. Chandra Griffth Elkins, Ad Hoc Constitution Committee, October 2008-March 29, 2010 and presented to the members for a vote on April 16, 2010]

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I. NAME

The name of this association shall be the Tennessee Tech Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP).  This chapter shall be affiliated with the national organization and the Tennessee Conference of the American Association of University Professors.

 ARTICLE II.  PURPOSE

The mission of the Tennessee Tech Chapter of the AAUP shall be the same as that of the national organization.

The mission of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) is to advance academic freedom and shared governance, to define fundamental professional values and standards for higher education, and to ensure higher education’s contribution to the common good.  As a non-profit organization, we serve the profession, rather than individual members, and our services are available to all members of the profession, regardless of membership status.

The principal functions of this chapter shall be: (1) to consider questions of general interest to the professoriate; (2) to consider current local questions of academic method or policy, or of professional obligation and privilege; (3) to serve as a nucleus in initiating faculty action; (4) to take action upon specific matters of association business submitted to the chapter by the Council or the officers of the national or state organizations; (5) to cooperate with the officers of the national and state organizations in dealing with professional problems, in order that the AAUP may be as representative of the profession as possible.

ARTICLE III.  MEMBERSHIP

To be eligible for active membership in the Tennessee Tech Chapter of AAUP, one must be a member of the national organization.  The types of memberships and the process for joining are as follows:

1. There shall be four classes of members:

a. Active Members. Any person who holds a professional position of teacher or researcher or related professional appointment, including any member of an AAUP-represented bargaining unit in a college, university, or professional school of similar grade accredited in the United States or Canada, may be admitted to active membership in the Association.

b. Graduate Student Members. Any person who is, or within the past five years has been a graduate student may be admitted to graduate student membership. Graduate student members shall have all rights and privileges accorded to active members under this Constitution, including the right to hold office and to vote in national elections.  Graduate student members shall be transferred to active membership as soon as they become eligible.

c. Retired Members.  An active member who retires may choose to be transferred to retired membership.  Retired members retain all rights and privileges accorded to active members under this Constitution, including the right to hold office and to vote in national elections.

d. Associate Members. Any active member of this chapter whose work is or becomes primarily administrative shall be eligible for associate membership. Any person not eligible for one of the other three classes of membership may be admitted as an associate member, including members of the general public.

2. The admission of members shall require two steps:

1. Application
2. Acceptance and Notification

 Chapter membership shall be for the academic year.

ARTICLE IV.  OFFICERS

 The officers of this organization shall be a president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer.  These officers shall be elected annually at the last regular meeting in the spring and shall take office at the close of the meeting at which elected.  All officers serve one-year terms, with no term limit.

ARTICLE V. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

 There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the president as presiding officer, the vice-president, the secretary, and the treasurer.

ARTICLE VI.  COMMITTEES

 This chapter shall maintain a standing committee on membership recruitment and retention.  Other standing committees may be created by the positive action of the chapter at a regular meeting, provided the establishment of such a committee has been discussed at least one previous meeting in the same academic year.

Ad hoc committees may be established by the chapter or the president at a regular meeting, of by the Executive Committee in session.

ARTICLE VII.  MEETINGS

Regular chapter meetings shall be held three times per semester during the academic year.  Special meetings may be called by the Executive Committee, provided written notice has been extended to the membership at least four days prior to the meeting.

ARTICLE VIII.  RULES OF ORDER

The rules of order contained in the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern the parliamentary procedure of this organization whenever applicable, except that the constitution and by-laws of this chapter and the constitution of the national AAUP shall take precedence in the event of any inconsistency.

ARTICLE IX.  BY-LAWS

 By-laws to this constitution may be adopted as needed for the effective implementation of the provisions of this document.

 ARTICLE X. AMENDMENTS

This constitution may be amended at any regular meeting of the chapter by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting, provided that a copy of the proposed amendment has been sent to all members at least two weeks prior to the meeting at which the vote will take place, and further provided that the proposed amendment has been discussed at the previous regular meeting.