Faculty respond to work options survey

The results of a survey in which faculty gave their opinions about work reductions due to budget cuts were released this week. The Work Options Survey asked faculty members about their opinions on issues such as shortened workweeks and mandatory vacations without pay to save money as the university faces large budget cuts.

Close to 3,500 members of the faculty and staff responded to the survey. The purpose of the changes is to identify alternatives that will allow the university to save money while avoiding potential layoffs.

A combination of part-time, full-time, temporary and fixed-term faculty gave their opinions, and 44 percent of those who responded have worked at ECU for five years or less. Twenty-one percent have worked at ECU for six to 10 years, with faculty who have worked for the university longer responding in lesser numbers.

Ernest Turner, professor of jazz piano in the School of Music, responded to the survey. "It affects me because I'm fixed-term. If they start cutting jobs they cut staff, adjunct then fixed-term," he said.

Turner said that although he is concerned about the issue, he believes the university is handling it well.

"I think the university is doing the best that they can before getting to the final place of having to cut positions," he said. "I think they're doing everything in their power to not have to cut positions."

Faculty members were asked to rate options for cost-saving alternatives on a scale of one to seven, with one being strongly support and seven being strongly opposed.

Options were given for voluntary unpaid leave of five days or less during the year, voluntary unpaid leave of six to 12 days during the year, voluntary reduction in hours per week or phased retirements.

Options were also given for mandatory unpaid leave, mandatory unpaid leave based on salary level (higher salary positions would have more unpaid leave days during the year), temporary salary decreases, permanent salary decreases and incentives for early retirement.

About 30 percent of faculty members answered in strong support of a voluntary unpaid leave of five days or less, but about 30 percent were strongly opposed to a voluntary unpaid leave of six to 10 days. Still, approximately 30 percent responded in favor of unpaid leave for six to 12 days and about 35 percent responded in favor of a voluntary reduction in hours per week (responses between a five and seven).

However, salary cuts and mandatory unpaid leave did not receive as much faculty support. In each category with these options, the largest number of responses came in the strongly opposed category.

Seventy-eight percent of faculty members were strongly opposed to a permanent salary decrease and 53 percent were opposed to a temporary salary decrease. Close to 50 percent were strongly opposed to a mandatory unpaid leave of six to 10 days.

Turner said that while salary cuts aren't desirable, he believes that with the knowledge of the recent budget cuts and the economic crisis, most faculty will understand if that option is chosen.

"I think [the administration has] been really up front. It's not like a situation where anyone has kept us in the dark. I think if that's the final step before cutting positions, it's a necessary evil," Turner said. "Of course I think they're doing everything in their power to not have to cut salaries and not to have to cut positions, but I think everybody's in a pinch--it's not just our university.

Over 40 percent gave a rating of five or higher in support of a mandatory leave based on salary level, and 46 percent were in favor of mandatory leave of five days or less.

"I think everybody probably feels the same," Turner said. "If you have a choice between losing your job and getting your salary cut a bit, you'd probably choose cutting your salary a little bit."

Faculty were also given the option to write comments and suggestions for the university. They were asked to give their opinions about options they supported to reduce overall costs for themselves, options they supported to reduce overall salary costs for the university in general, ways that the university can reduce the impact of budget reduction cuts on student education and any other budget. The voluntary options and phased retirement were alternatives that are currently in accordance with state and university policy. The mandatory options, salary cuts and incentives for early retirement were alternatives that may be put in place, if authorized by legislative action. The results of the survey were posted online at ecu.edu/cs-admin/staffsenate/meetings/upload/SurveySummary_03162009-1.pdf

Over 3,000 comments were given and will be categorized and posted on the sight by the end of the month.

This writer can be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com.