Full-time faculty and staff will receive a 2% “across-the-board salary increase” as recommended by the Budget Executive Committee, according to an email sent to faculty and staff Wednesday afternoon by WKU President Timothy Caboni.

Caboni told the Faculty Senate during its September meeting that “2% a year is not enough,” and that across-the-board salary increases “are not going to address our issues.” He instead emphasized implementing merit-based raises. 

Jace Lux, university spokesperson, told the Herald Wednesday via email that university leadership accepted the BEC’s recommendation because it believes it “best enables our faculty and staff to address inflationary pressures” and demonstrates “the respect leadership has for the BEC’s work and the important role it plays in the budgeting process.”

Lux said in the email Caboni anticipates the BEC’s recommendation next year to include the incorporation of merit-based salary increases.

All faculty and staff members hired on or before July 31 are eligible for the 2% increase, which will go into effect Jan. 1, 2025, Caboni said in the email. 

“We recognize and deeply value the dedication of our faculty and staff both to our students and to WKU,” Caboni said in the email. “Thank you for your continued work to transform lives and achieve our institutional mission.”

The announcement comes following the university’s announcement of a 22.5% increase in health care premiums. The WKU Department of Human Resources released the 2025 benefits guide on Oct. 3, which outlined the plans available to faculty and staff for 2025. WKU math professor Dan Clark, in an email to faculty and staff, shared a document explaining that premiums were increasing. This includes a $25.42 increase from last year and a $53.42 total increase since 2018.

Content Editor Ali Costellow can be reached at [email protected]