On Feb. 7, faculty and staff gathered in the Union Family Ballroom to listen to President Ed Seidel address the current issues facing the University of Wyoming, including salaries, hiring, parking, and inclusion across campus.
Human resources director Robert “Bob” Link and staff senate president Tim Nichols joined Seidel in answering questions that have been plaguing UW. Prior to the meeting, faculty and staff voiced their opinions through a survey called the “Delottie Satisfaction Survey,”. The results of this survey will be discussed at the next Board of Trustees meeting.
The first topic addressed was staff salaries, specifically the possibilities of pay increases and comparability to other universities.
“I think that first and foremost looking at salaries for staff and faculty is just absolutely critical and then seeing what we can do to raise them to have some that were competitive across not only the state but across the entire country,” Seidel said.
“Salaries were taken up as the governor’s number one request, and so we did get an uptick in salaries. Then the Board of Trustees and my office agreed to chip in on a one-time salary supplement, which is still only halfway implemented.”
“Of the $15 million that we requested, $10 million was for staff salaries and $5 million for faculty.”
Staff and faculty members also discussed the overload of work they are currently facing and asked President Seidel what he is planning to do to try and hire more people at the university.
“It’s not that I’m not interested. It’s just that we should make sure that we push decisions to the right level of the organization to make hires with as little bureaucracy as possible,” Seidel said.
“But realizing we’re at a public university, we have to have that process for accountability.”
Seidel noted it’s important to offer competitive accommodations on campus, referencing Half-Acre gym, the various educational options on campus, and the UW community.
Parking was the next matter discussed. With certain parts of the Union lot being closed off and the Ivinson parking garage still under construction, people raised concerns if Seidel had a plan.
“We’re aware. We did have a discussion with ASUW last week at the board meeting about making sure that buses are actually operating much later from the big parking lot.” Seidel said.
Individuals also pressed for updates on the garage.
“That parking garage has been delayed somewhat in its opening so that parking garage will not open until around July.”
People were also concerned with the placement of the garage, some claiming it is too far from central places like the Union and Coe Library.
“All I know is that there was a parking lot in the place where the garage has gone up. And I think it was a very convenient place that the university had access to build.” Seidel said.
“I don’t think it was particularly about trying to advantage people in Old Main. It is across the street from Old Main, I will admit that, but I don’t think that was related.”
Another issue across campus that is concerning both faculty and staff is the university’s plan to expand and address inclusivity measures.
“We really needed to have a strong office of Vice President for diversity, equity, and inclusion. So that required, of course, a lot of work, including Board approval, which we had some deep conversations with the Board of Trustees about why it is we need to have diversity, equity, and inclusion,” Seidel said.
“That office, among other activities that will undertake here, is going to be looking at many aspects of how to build an inclusive environment on this campus.”
Seidel told staff and faculty, “You all have a role to play in helping to set and achieve the goals of the direction of the future of the university.”
“We’ve decided, based on a lot of feedback from some of you, to implement an office of continuing improvement, and that’s going to look particularly at administrative processes.”
“It is going to work through piece by piece things that need improving, and we’ll come back, and we’ll see what we can do to address them.”
