Ferrari: No hiring freeze
Chancellor still looking to push through raises
By Lara Hendrickson and James Zwilling
Staff Reporters

Chancellor Michael Ferrari says the university’s decision not to create any new faculty or staff positions for the 2003-2004 academic year is not a sign that the university is in a financial crisis, and that there is no “hiring freeze.”

“Generally this means that no persons are being hired as replacements or for new positions,” Ferrari said. “This does not apply to TCU.”

In addition, Ferrari has asked the deans to examine all positions that may be vacated by attrition to see if the positions are essential, he said.

“I’m challenging every dean to look carefully at every position,” he said. “Is it essential to be replaced next year? If it is, move ahead.”

Mary Volcansek, dean of AddRan College of Humanities and Social Sciences, said while her department remains understaffed, she knows there may not be any new hires in the near future.

“We remain understaffed in AddRan College, but in comparison with the situations at other universities, both public and private, around the U.S., I am most grateful that we were able to fill all of our existing positions,” Volcansek said. “When the economy improves, I will again attempt to secure incremental positions.”

Volcansek would not comment on whether she felt the best way to spend funds was in the form of faculty raises, but she said the departments make the best of the situation they have been given.

“I believe that all departments manage their funds so as to maximize their ability to teach effectively and to conduct worthwhile research,” Volcansek said.

Ferrari agreed faculty performance and size are still in acceptable shape for now.

“We have an outstanding faculty and staff who have contributed greatly during the past year to ensure the highest level of academic quality and services to students,” Ferrari said. “I think our students would agree.”

He said new hires are primarily tied to staffing the University Recreation Center, William E. and Jean Jones Tucker Technology Center and Sarah and Steve Smith Entrepreneurs Hall. He also said students and faculty will benefit from the new hires with advancements in the Career Planning and Placement Center and selected academic programs.

Junior e-business major Kate Gie said she hopes faculty would be hired if needed in any department.

“When you think about it, it really just hurts us,” Gie said. “If our classes are too big, we aren’t really getting what we pay for at a private school.”

Volcansek and Ferrari both said despite the fact that no new faculty or staff positions will be created, TCU is still in better shape compared to other universities.

A New York Times article published in November highlighted some of the problems of the nation’s wealthiest universities including dropping endowments, hiring freezes and layoffs.

Duke University announced plans to cut 20 faculty positions in the arts and sciences and maybe as many as 50 positions total over the next three years. Emory University has told its faculty and staff that there will be no merit raises for 2003-2004.

“(Crisis) is an inappropriate word given where we are,” Ferrari said. “Take a look around at what’s going on in higher education around this country. There’s no crisis here. We’re talking about raises next year.”

Ferrari said his primary objective is for the continuing faculty and staff to feel appreciated with a 2 percent salary increase distributed on a merit basis, though this is a slightly lower number than previous years of 4 and 5 percent.

Ferrari said the total amount for raises equals $1.6 million and the benefits of raises, as well as hiring new necessary staff, outweigh the costs.

“The university does not nor has it had an operating deficit for over 20 years, (and) the 2003-2004 budget has a contingency surplus projected of some $2.5 million,” Ferrari said. “Whether one spends money for salary increases or new personnel, both are long-term commitments.”

Ferrari said although TCU is not in a financial crisis, the university is facing the same economic pressures as the rest of the nation, and it will have to look inside itself for solutions.

“As the economy improves, which it will, and as the endowment begins again to benefit from that improved economy, there will be ample time and resources for revisiting additional new faculty and staff,” Ferrari said. “At this juncture and after committing resources in recent years to facilities, salary and wage increases and investments in our faculty and staff are now simply of higher importance and urgency.”

One thing TCU will not do, however, is increase enrollment, Ferrari said.

“At a time when there is no growth in enrollments at TCU, which we have planned and implemented in recent years to provide an optimal size learning environment, the major priority should be on supporting our current faculty and staff and attending to major needs of our students,” Ferrari said. “The budget does this.”

Chancellor-designate Victor Boschini Jr. said he could not yet comment on the monetary issue.

“It will take me a little time to get up to speed once I hit campus for good at the end of May,” Boschini said.

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