RALEIGH: The North Carolina Community College System has reported for some time about the salary crisis at community colleges. On Friday at its November meeting, the State Board of Community Colleges heard just how serious the situation really is.

Independent consultant Kent Caruthers of MGT, Inc. presented results from a system-wide salary study for faculty, staff and presidents at North Carolina’s community colleges. North Carolina community college salaries were compared to community college salaries in states with similar instructional programs and similar economies and with states located in the southern region. There was also a national comparison. In each instance the figures show North Carolina ranks near the bottom.

The average North Carolina faculty salary is $36,205, well below the national average of $43,637. The report shows that overall, community college faculty salaries fall short by an average of 20% per 9-10 month year. The NCCCS also asked the consultant to include salaries of non-instructional professional staff such as counselors, librarians and financial aid officers in the study. Caruthers reported that NCCCS administrative and professional staff salaries trail the national average by 16%.

It will take considerable funding to bring salaries for faculty and professional staff to the national average. The study recommends implementing the change in the next biennium with a price tag of $79.2 million.

The ideal recommended in the study is to have North Carolina salaries rank in the top 20% nationally, or in the 80th percentile. Bringing faculty and professional staff salaries to that 80^th percentile goal would cost more than twice the amount of reaching the national average. The proposed schedule in the consultant’s report calls for funding of $174.5 million in the second biennium to reach the 80^th percentile.

The study also looked at presidents’ salaries and concluded compensation is 5-10% below various comparison groups. Caruthers suggested that salary adjustments related to years of service and to compensate for previous salary freezes could alleviate salary competitiveness problems for presidents.

The State Board voted to send the consultant’s report and recommendations to the General Assembly and the Office of the Governor for review and consideration. The State Board feels this information will prove critical, as the State budget is set.

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