Thank You and Compensation Announcement

Dear Faculty and Staff,

This past weekend, I celebrated the fourth and final of our 2022 University of Redlands Commencement ceremonies at the Graduate School of Theology on our Marin campus.  Our 18 GST graduates join our 624 College of Arts and Sciences, 451 School of Business & Society, and 460 School of Education graduates, and we are so proud of every member of the University of Redlands Class of 2022.

The personalized and outstanding education that each one of our students receives has one common thread:  you, our incredible faculty and staff.  Without you, our mission of educating the next generation of leaders would not be possible.  In our classrooms, in our labs, on our stages, in residence halls, on fields, pools and courts, in Redlands, Marin, and across our campuses, you make the education and mentorship that we provide to our students possible.

I want to say thank you, and thank you again, for everything you do.

A few weeks ago, our Board of Trustees met on our Redlands campus for their May meeting.  For two days, they deliberated on the challenges facing higher education and how best to address them at the University of Redlands.  Despite those challenges, our Board unanimously agreed with the recommendation of the President’s Cabinet to provide all full- and part-time faculty and staff (including those in their introductory period), including our adjunct faculty, with a 2% cost-of-living increase.  Increases will be effective for the pay period beginning June 20, 2022, for hourly (non-exempt) employees and on July 1, 2022, for salaried (exempt) employees, or on the first day of your contract if less than 12 months. Our Board of Trustees know, as I do, that what you do makes the education at the University of Redlands possible.  We are committed to investing in you, our most treasured asset.

This cost-of-living increase is in addition to the rise in retirement contributions by the University for all employees as follows:

  • For Exempt Employees: 5% base employer contribution + up to 1% employee match contribution for a potential total of 6%
  • Non-Exempt employees: 6% employer contribution (with no match necessary)

I appreciate having the opportunity to talk with our faculty at their assembly later today and to our staff at the URSAA forum tomorrow morning.  While we are proud that we were able to carve out of the extremely tight budget an increase in pay and benefits for all of our employees, we must also be cognizant that continued and deep challenges exist across higher education and for our beloved University. 

Coming together as one UNI-versity to confront these challenges as clear-eyed as possible remains necessary, and I thank you for all the time you spent this year educating me about our issues and opportunities.  I look forward to our continued work together.

Additional information will be sent you in the next few weeks about your salary increases, retirement contributions, and other related information, including our compensation study to ensure our pay scales are more market-based and equitable. 

And in the coming weeks, we will be reaching out to you as partners on the continued development of our University’s Strategic Plan, charting a course ahead to ensure a bright future.

As we wrap up the 2021-2022 academic and fiscal year, please accept my deepest thanks for all you do for our students and the University of Redlands.

Sincerely,

 

Krista Newkirk signature

Krista L. Newkirk
President