MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING 

of the 
BOARD OF TRUSTEES 
October 8, 1971 

Present:  Trustees Carrigan, Hartman, Martin, Merriman, Stevens, and Thompson; 

President Wharton, Executive Vice President and Secretary Breslin, 
Provost Cantlon, Vice Presidents Perrin and Wilkinson, Attorney Carr, 
Assistant to the President Ballard.  Trustee White arrived at 6:39 p.m. 

Absent:  Trustee Huff 

The Board convened in the Heritage Room, Kellogg Center, at 6:15 p.m. 
presiding. 

President Wharton 

1.  Salary Adjustments for 1971-72 

Revised salary change sheets, a memorandum explaining the basis for_recommendations 
and the applicability of the wage-price freeze, and a confidential memorandum on 
salary recommendations for the university officers were distributed to the Trustees. 

j 1971-72 salary 
| increases 
-approved 

President Wharton explained that prior to the wage-price freeze, the administration 
felt it would be possible to grant an average of  1% salary increases, with substantial 
salary increases going to the full professors whose average salaries ranked tenth in 
the Big Ten.  The September 16 ruling by the Cost of Living Council stated in part, 

"In the situation which prevailed in the State of Michigan, the only thing which 
prevented that teacher1s eligibility from accruing earnings at that rate was the 
failure of the State Legislature to take action," reinforced the opinion of the 
President that faculty and staff had been, in effect, accruing earnings at the higher 
rate since July 1. 

When the Governor signed the higher education appropriation bill into law, he Indicated 
that he would exercise his option to withhold up to 3% of each institution1s appropria 
tions if it appeared that such action was needed in order to balance the State's 
budget.  Through the emergency efforts of the central administration, the deans, 
department chairmen, directors, and others, a staging plan was developed which listed 
the actions that might be taken in budget cuts so that the University could still give 
the salary increases as originally planned.  Such actions were based on gradual cuts 
up to 3%.  The administration is hopeful that any cuts can be returned; if they are not. 
the University will have to reorder its program priorities in order to live within the 
reduced base from which it must operate. 

Upon the recommendation of the administration, Trustee Stevens moved, Trustee Carrigan 
seconded, the adoption of the following motion:  The Trustees approve the faculty salary 
list as submitted and that the administrative-professional, clerical-technical, and labor 
employees  (who were not covered by labor negotiations and, subsequently, did not receive a 
wage adjustment) be granted a wage adjustment based on a 7% factor.  These adjustments are 
to be made retroactive to July 1, 1971. 

Trustee Thompson wondered whether we were creating a problem for the" future and if we 
would have to live the next year the same way.  He also hoped that the faculty and 
staff who will benefit from this increase will realize the conditions under which the 
money has been made available and respond with some belt tightening, improved pro 
ductivity and other efficiencies.  His third concern was that the University would have 
to do more with less. 

President Wharton responded that he felt the University would know fairly soon whether 
the 3%, 2%, or 1% cuts would constitute a permanent impairment on our budget.  He also 
felt the Trustees should be involved from the very beginning in assessing what reorder 
ing of program priorities might need to be done in 1972-73.  He expressed confidence 
that the faculty and staff would continue to perform valuable service for the 
University as they had in the past. 

Trustee Merriman stated that while he has some sympathy for the taxpayers who might be 
concerned about an across-the-board  7% increase, his compelling thought is that we must 
keep competitive as far as our salaries are concerned.' 

It was Trustee Stevens1 opinion that the increase is not too much and in some areas 
the case has been made that many of our faculty are underpaid. 

Trustee Carrigan remarked that she was appalled at the salary levels, both recommended 
and present.  She suggested that in the future, the list, depending on what use the 
administration wished the Trustees to make of it, might identify part-time, full-time, 
10- or 12-month people and years of service.  She also was disturbed that because of 
internal politics she found herself reasonably accurate in predicting which faculty 
members would get large increases and which would receive small increases.  Some 
increases, she noted, were below the increased cost of living for last year. 

Trustee Stevens1 motion passed by a vote of 6 to 0. 

i 

i 

i 

7210 

Minutes of the Special Meeting/ continued 

October 8, 1971 

Publicizing of  2. 
faculty 
salaries 
discussed 

Provost Cantlon alluded to a recent exchange in the press relative to the release of 
salary information, and he expressed the hope that before any unilateral action was 
taken, the faculty would be given an opportunity to express themselves in this area. 

(Trustee White arrived and took his seat at 6:39 p.m.) 

Trustee Stevens stated that he has felt for a long time that public institutions' 
salaries should be made public.  He indicated he would like the  faculty to take 
another look at this issue and hopefully they might want to change their position. 

Trustee Martin asked how salary information became confidential.  Provost Cantlon 
replied that salaries are not hidden.  Every member of the press receives a full copy 
of the agenda at Board meetings but they have not chosen to publicize those figures. 

Trustee Thompson said he approved the publishing of salary ranges, but opposed the 
identifying of people and their salaries. 

Trustee Merriman said that the moment he would be sympathetic with keeping the policy 
as it is, but if, after looking into the situation, the faculty recommended that in 
the best interest of Michigan State the salaries be publicized he would favor a change 
in policy. 

Trustee Carrigan stated that she was opposed to publicizing salary information but 
was not opposed to making this information available to the members of the public who 
want it.  She asked Attorney Carr if we can deny access to salary information to any 
member of the public who requests it.  Attorney Carr replied that it was his opinion 
that we could not, but he felt the faculty and the Board should review the policy. 

President Wharton said he felt the faculty's present concern was that one or more 
members of the Board might make salary information available to the public. 

In response to Trustee Carrigan1s suggestion that a discussion of this policy be 
scheduled for a future Board meeting, the President stated that Provost Cantlon would 
be glad to consult with the appropriate committee which might take care of what may 
be the desired posture of the faculty, administration, and Trustees.  He did not feel 
certain this would handle the immediate issue. 

Discussion re 
Detroit news 
paper article 

Trustee Stevens displayed a copy of an article which recently appeared in a Detroit 
newspaper regarding an alleged executive meeting of the Board of Trustees.  Several of 
the Trustees expressed their displeasure and disgust with the article, branding it 
completely and totally inaccurate. 

Meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m. 

President 

Secretary