Annual Merit Increases

University and SPS guidelines concerning annual salary increases for bargaining unit and non-bargaining unit full-time continuing contract faculty (C-Faculty) for the coming academic year are set forth below. Also provided are the criteria to be used to evaluate performance and determine individual salary increases. The Annual Merit Increase (AMI) pool for FY2027 for Non-Bargaining Unit Continuing Contract Faculty is 2.0%.

Annually, SPS Human Resources informs associate deans of the criteria for distributing the Annual Salary Increase (AMI) pool, based on University guidelines, and issues spreadsheets for them to record their AMI recommendations for all non-bargaining unit faculty (Non-BUE), noting recommendations ought to reflect outcomes of the Faculty Annual Review (FAR) process.

In reaching a final AMI determination, the SPS Dean considers each unit leader’s recommendation and consults with the vice dean of faculty, the associate dean of finance, and other senior administrators as appropriate. There is no salary review committee at SPS.

Non-BUE faculty not meeting expectations will not receive AMI.

Visiting faculty do not typically receive an AMI. However, the Dean will consider requests from academic units that detail exceptional performance.

All Continuing Contract faculty (including both bargaining unit and non-bargaining unit continuing contract faculty) who earned a promotion will receive a minimum increase of 10% (or more), inclusive of AMI.

• Annual Faculty Activity Report (FAR) Submission: Each full-time faculty member must submit an Annual Faculty Activity Report (FAR) to their Associate Dean or Chair, addressing standard workload criteria for SPS clinical contract faculty: teaching, service/administration, and research/scholarly/creative activity. The Associate Dean or Chair reviews each portfolio, submits a written evaluation, and meets with each faculty member. SPS uses the same FAR process for all full-time clinical faculty. 

• The FAR process begins on November 1 with an email notification to all faculty. Faculty submit their reports by February 14th. Associate Deans and Chairs complete their evaluations by March 31.

• In April, the SPS Dean and the Vice Dean of Faculty meet with every Associate Dean and Chair to discuss the FAR reports and their evaluations. Final decisions about whether or not expectations are being met were communicated June 1. If expectations are not being met, or only partially met, the letter to the faculty indicated which category or categories (teaching, service, scholarly activity) require improvement.

Once SPS receives University approval of the AMI submission, unit leaders are notified of approved increases and, in turn, inform faculty in their units of their increases.

In addition, electronic letters are emailed to full-time faculty, with a copy to Michael McCaw, Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Appointments. These letters are typically sent in August, coinciding with communications issued to administrators, in advance of the new academic year. Letters will direct faculty to the SPS website for AMI process guidelines.