Dear colleagues:

Competitive employee compensation is essential to the University of Illinois System’s ability to retain and recruit the best faculty and staff. Our people are our most important resource, and the foundation of everything we are and everything we do.

Now that the state has passed a budget for fiscal year 2020, I am pleased to authorize a 2 percent, merit-based salary program for faculty, academic professional and civil service staff. Also, the three universities are authorized to use additional resources from their FY20 budgets to address individual salary cases related to compression, market, equity and retention issues. Commitments for existing contractual agreements, promotions and equity adjustments will also be honored as part of this program.

Pay adjustments for faculty and staff in bargaining units will be determined by negotiations with the bargaining representative and/or applicable contract settlements, and are not subject to unilateral adjustments unless authorized or permitted pursuant to the collective bargaining process.

The program will take effect August 16. I have asked the chancellors to monitor carefully any individual increases amounting to more than 7 percent at their universities and I will do the same at the system level.

My deepest thanks to all of you for your key role in continuing the momentum that each of our universities have built to better serve our students and the public good. I am grateful for your partnership, your dedication and your loyalty.

Sincerely,


Tim