From: Ian Baucom, Executive Vice President and Provost

I write to outline the 2023-2024 faculty merit increase guidelines and process.

Schools should use an average 5.0 percent increase, as authorized by the University for the 2023-2024 merit cycle. While we are planning for a 5.0 percent increase institutionally, as of the date of this memo the Virginia General Assembly has not finalized the Fiscal Year 2024 operating budget. If there are any changes once the budget is finalized we will follow up with you.

I request that each school provide a faculty merit increase narrative by July 6. It should contextualize the individual and cumulative merit recommendations, including any proposed deviation from the authorized average that may have resulted from budgetary considerations or other factors.

All faculty salary increases are based on performance. Your narrative should address how your school evaluates performance. It should also include how you incorporate considerations related to promotions, market, and equity in relation to performance for the purpose of salary setting.

As you are aware, the University is conducting a faculty salary review by an external consultant under the guidance of University Counsel. The consultant’s preliminary analysis is expected by the end of May. We have adjusted the due date of your faculty merit recommendations to give you as much time as possible to consider this information, given that you will receive it a little later than anticipated. While schools should not adjust any individual’s salary solely based on these results, they may be helpful to you as you consider faculty merit.

The following are additional academic faculty salary increase guidelines to keep in mind:

• Schools are required to submit both a narrative, as described above, and a spreadsheet with individual-level merit recommendations. Schools are encouraged to submit the narrative as soon as possible. Regardless, both the narrative and the spreadsheet are due on or before Thursday, July 6.
• All salary increases are subject to the availability of funding. Merit increase proposals should correspond to each unit’s approved budget.
• Salary increases must be awarded in accordance with the Policy on University Faculty Salaries and Bonuses.
• Increases should not be awarded “across the board” or on a pre-determined scale.
• Increase recommendations of zero percent (0%) or greater than fifteen percent (15%) require narrative justification and supporting documentation.
• Faculty who are partially funded by the Dual Career Program: Please note that the DCP will not contribute to salary increases of more than the average of 5%. Any increases above 5% will need to be covered by the faculty member’s home unit(s) according to the DCP MOU.
• Schools should coordinate salary recommendations for faculty who hold joint appointments.
• On behalf of the President, the Provost’s Office will coordinate salary recommendations for faculty who hold University Professor appointments. Schools should submit these recommendations directly to Maggie Peña Harden.

If you have any questions regarding the implementation of the faculty merit increase, please contact Maggie Harden at 434-924-0778 or mph4d@virginia.edu.