The Graph of the Week is back after a temporary holidays/start of the General Assembly absence. Each week we feature a new graphic that highlights an important aspect of independent higher education in Kentucky.

During last Thursday’s (1/21) House Budget Review Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education meeting, the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education presented its budget request and commented on the Governor’s budget proposal. During the question and answer session with legislators, public university presidents representing both the regional universities and the state’s research institutions commented on the negative impact the bleak budget situation has had on campus morale. The presidents said continuing salary freezes (or worse, layoffs) could result in these institutions losing faculty members to private institutions, where faculty could presumably secure higher pay. No doubt, the public presidents were referencing private institutions nationally — particularly research and large undergraduate institutions.

AIKCU understands the public sector presidents’ plea for funding increases that allow them to adequately fund and retain their faculty. We are also sympathetic with their faculty and staff who have seen their salaries frozen (like many of our own members’ faculty/staff). However, it is important to avoid confusion and to clarify the reality of faculty compensation in Kentucky. So this week’s graph takes a look at average faculty salaries in Kentucky by sector and faculty rank.

As you can see, the average AIKCU salaries at all faculty ranks are significantly lower than their counterparts at both the regional and research public institutions. Of course these are all averages, and AIKCU faculty certainly enjoy other benefits. However, it is clear that when the public presidents cite the possible loss of faculty to private institutions based on salary differences they are not really talking about competition from AIKCU members.