Dear Interim Executive Dean R.J. Hinde:

In Spring of 2022, a majority of non-tenure-track faculty in the College of Arts & Sciences signed a letter calling for a base salary of $60,000 for non-tenure-track faculty, compression adjustments, and clear policies and guidelines for annual compression review and merit raises. Although steps have been taken to address lecturer salaries and compression, these demands have not yet been met in full.

With the restructuring of the College of Arts & Sciences, it is imperative that the new leadership commit to improving the wages of all non-tenure-track faculty in the College. In her Leadership Town Hall, Chancellor Plowman herself emphasized the importance of improving salaries across campus, using our aspirational peer institutions as benchmarks, in order to attract and retain high-quality instructors. The College must follow through on that promise.

Attracting and retaining quality instructors has become even more difficult because the cost of living in Knoxville has continued to rise faster than wages. A living wage for a working adult with one child in Knox County in 2022 is now $28.55/hour. Apartment rents increased nearly 20% over the previous year and 47% since 2019. In 2022 Knoxville ranked 6th out of the top 100 metro areas in the country for home price growth, with an increase of 15.9% over the previous year.

Although the College adjusted some salaries for compression in March 2021 and equity and merit in July 2022, it must continue adjusting current salaries for compression due to inflation and increased rent in Knoxville. With the restructuring and the new budget model (BAM), transparency and documentation are essential regarding how compression and merit raises are determined and who determines them.

Campus workers across UTK ask for living wages because of the escalating cost of living. Non-tenure-track faculty perform essential teaching, research, and service at the University, so they deserve compensation that matches the immense teaching loads, high cost of living, and years of service to the University.

In conclusion, non-tenure-track faculty ask for:

1. A base salary of $60,000 with adjustments for rank and seniority

2. Compression adjustments for all lecturers that incorporate previous raises

3. A written policy for an annual salary compression review

4. Clear guidelines and documentation for merit raises

We look forward to hearing from you. Please contact us via email by April 15, 2023: alangend@utk.edu, mromano2@utk.edu, mtabone@utk.edu

On behalf of the UCW non-tenure track faculty organizing committee and lecturers in the College of Arts and Sciences,

Sincerely,