University of Michigan proposes to raise employee parking permit rates after 1-year freeze
The University of Michigan plans to institute a one-year freeze on its parking permit rates, followed by three years of increases that range from 2.5 percent to 4.5 percent for the two highest-tier passes.
Permit fees are used to service debt for parking and transportation projects, such as the Wall Street Parking structure that's been approved by regents and will add 525 spaces to U-M's parking portfolio, and toward a $1 million-per-year contribution by U-M Parking & Transportation Services to support a $173 million renewal project of the school's unions and gyms.
A rendering of the structure approved for Wall Street.
University of Michigan rendering
For fiscal 2014, rates will stay at current levels, which are $1,577 annually for gold permits and $667 for blue permits, the two tiers of passes that allow drivers to park within walking distance of core areas of campus. By 2017 the cost will have increased to $1,774 for gold permits and $722 for blue permits.
For yellow and oranges passes —the two lowest-level permits that cost $153 and $76, respectively— costs will remain unchanged until 2017, when they'll rise 3 percent.
The university contributes $150 annually toward an employee's parking cost and plans to contribute $163 by 2017.
The changes will be voted on by the university's eight-member Board of Regents during a Thursday meeting at the Fairlane Center on the school's Dearborn campus.
In 2017 and the years that follow, the university wants to institute a 3 percent annual parking fee increase, according to a memo to regents signed by U-M Chief Financial Officer Timothy Slottow. Over the past three years parking rates have seen a 3 percent annual increase.
U-M's Ann Arbor campus has more than 23,000 parking spaces in structures and surface lots.
Gold permits allow employees to park on the lower floor of structures adjacent to the hospital. Those permits are in short supply and high demand. Only certain staff are eligible for a gold permit, and most who are must enter a lottery system to receive one. Blue permits also allow employees to park at nearby structures and lots. Yellow and orange permits are usually for remote lots and require parkers to bus onto core areas of campus, although some yellow parking lots are near campus buildings.
Rates for permits to city structures in Ann Arbor are $1,680 a year.
Source: University of Michigan
Correction: Rates for orange and yellow passes will rise 3 percent in 2017 and not 2013 as previously stated in this article.
Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.
Comments
Katie Juice
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 11:18 a.m.
People who are allowed university permits have it so easy! I pay 1860$/year (155$/month) to park at the liberty square structure. I could have a gold permit for all the money I pay- and I still park on the 5th floor there.
teemack
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 5:03 a.m.
The University and/or AATA needs to expand routes and times for us "off-shift" hospital employees. I'd be happy to use the commuter lots if there were a bus to drive me to my car when my shift ends at 3 in the morning. Instead, I have to pay for the blue permit and pray for a spot just so I feel safe when I leave work.
Jay Thomas
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 3:08 a.m.
Mary Sue, you go girl!
Kai Petainen
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 9:25 p.m.
It makes a lot of sense to increase the gold parking passes. It's on a lottery system as there is more demand than supply, and so people are willing to pay more for the passes.
Tom
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 8:32 p.m.
Employees are our most important Asset. RIGHT.
CONCERNED CITIZEN
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 8:28 p.m.
Why does it say the U of M pays $150 per employee, who are they paying.....THEMSELVES???????????
UloveM
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 8:02 p.m.
The parking is pre-tax expense. The more you make, the less you pay for the parking.
arborlib
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 7:47 p.m.
It sure is going to be tough for those employees of Kellogg who will lose 300 spots while this parking structure is being built.
MRunner73
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 7:43 p.m.
Amazing how much money the University makes on parking. They also strickly enforce the parking permits as well. I wonder where all the revenues go. Between that and student tuition hikes, the University is a Fortune 500 company. Makes more sense that MSC is the 6th highest University President in the nation.
Krupper1
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 6:43 p.m.
@GoNavy, I'm a 12 year employee of the University and have never received an annual compensation increase close to 3% (with "superior" ratings on every review) . . . your points about the benefits package are accurate as is your point about the relative security of jobs there.
UloveM
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 8:11 p.m.
Are you working now?
teeters
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 6:20 p.m.
Park for FREE at AATA park-n-ride lots and take the FREE bus into work. Problem solved.
Useless
Thu, May 30, 2013 : 2:33 p.m.
This is also next to impossible with families with day care and school obligations spread out among various parts of the city.
Katie Juice
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 11:23 a.m.
If you don't work a regular shift- the busses don't run as frequently and then you end up getting dropped off several stops away and having to walk across an overpass to an scary deserted parking lot in the middle of the night, as I used to do. It's just not safe.
teemack
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 5:05 a.m.
Impossible when you work an odd shift. Not all of us have (or want) day positions. The hospital is a 24-hour operation.
HeimerBoodle
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 5:32 p.m.
While I don't really begrudge paying for my Blue permit (I knew what I was getting into when I took a job at the University), it is true that there's inequity in terms of work location. I pay more (and walk farther) to park near my office on the outskirts of the medical center than employees at Wolverine Tower. And then there are those lucky folks at the non-UM owned complexes like Arbor Lakes who get free and abundant parking. I'm honestly surprised that the U hasn't made all near-the-building parking Blue, regardless of proximity to campus.
Useless
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 5:23 p.m.
How come the university sells blue passes to the Bell Tower Hotel to valet their cars into the Blue Structure next door? This is really troublesome when the structure is full and a Blue/Gold pass holder can't find a spot. Shouldn't they be saving the passes for the staff that pay the Blue and Gold rates?
jdmb03
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 4:01 a.m.
Very good point.
Arno B
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 5:21 p.m.
Well why not have the users pay? Sounds like a good idea to me. When City Hall babbles about their budgets, I don't recall hearing about funds for maintenance of places such as the parking structures, nor how much the parking fees there cover the present and future maintenance costs. I suppose that this is understandable since money for maintenance doesn't buy many votes. Regarding the "gym" costs being funded by the University parking fees: Brandon and comnpany keep repeating that the costs of the sports programs are paid for by the football revenues, not University funds. It looks otherwise with gym costs being sneaked in. Hizzonner Hieftje commented recently about needing new commuting system financing caused by the current downtown vehicle congestion. Subtract the UM parking needs and the congestion is quite diminished. I get downtown occasionally after the rush hours and find it interesting that places like the "Black Hole" always has a couple hundred empty spaces and the lot across the street [5th and William] always has plenty space available.
Greg
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 5:20 p.m.
Very strange that they have the money to pay record high pay for new Mott manager, but whenever it comes to the workers, they are always short on funds.
Jay Thomas
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 3:05 a.m.
Salary has ALWAYS been the sacred cow. Better the buildings crumble first (find some rich guy to donate, etc).
jrigglem
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 4:42 p.m.
I'm a temporary employee and have an orange permit. I cannot join a carpool because I am temp. I also do NOT want to park closer to the hospital. Eh, so I have to be on a crowded bus for less than 5 minutes. I am one of the first people on in the morning and the last person off in the afternoon. Why do I park so far away?? Because I don't want to deal with the traffic downtown and where I do park is a hop, skip and a jump to 23, which hasn't been too bad of a 7 mile drive thus far. My drive home is much farther and relying on the vanpool doesn't work for me with having to get my daughter to and from daycare everyday. I'd rather rely on myself to make sure i make it to where I need to go on time.
Scott Reed
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 4:41 p.m.
This structure is really a bummer... The University should encourage its employees to LIVE near where they WORK, and encourage zoning and development policies that allow them to do so affordably. Building more parking structures will only exacerbate the problem, and cause more congestion in the downtown. What we need is more affordable HOUSING near high-employment University areas. The University surface lots and parking structures are an unpleasant eyesore, and create de-populated vacuums when people leave work in the evenings. How can the University have it so backwards? They only need to compare the vibrant and walkable Central Campus with the bleak and depressing astroturf North Campus to see that car-centric development is a terrible idea, economically and aesthetically. Dear U of M: Stop dumping parking lots all over town. You are making things worse.
jdmb03
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 3:58 a.m.
Yes Jay, I make $13 an hour but choose not to live close to campus in a $200,000 apartment.
Jay Thomas
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 3:03 a.m.
Actually they can afford to live in them. They just don't want to (mostly).
Hmm
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 6:26 p.m.
But haven't you heard? They're building all these fancy new high rises right here in downtown! Too bad the average worker at U of M cannot afford to live in them though.
djacks24
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 5:19 p.m.
UM doesn't want to let any land they can have tax free get away from them. They will soon consume all of Ann Arbor. Then eventually, the world! Buwahahahaha...
West Coast
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 4:40 p.m.
The Athletic Department Staff seem to be on an entirely different parking system. What are their rates? The Arbor Lakes Building appears to be free but they have evicted non University employees from their lot in the last few months...why is Arbor Lakes free parking......but restricted?
Ignatz
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 5:37 p.m.
In such cases it's usually because the department(s) in the nearby building choose to maintain the lots themselves, thus eliminating Parking Services. In other instances, the U is leasing space in a particular building and as part of the agreement, a certain number of spaces are allotted for U staff. In this case, too, Parking Services does not maintain the lot. It's Parking Services that charges, not the University, in general.
HeimerBoodle
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 5:35 p.m.
My understanding is that Arbor Lakes parking is free because the building isn't owned by UM and there is some contractual arrangement with the landlord that provides free parking. In fact I know people who've specifically moved jobs within UMHS so that they could take advantage of this.
Kellie Woodhouse
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 3:37 p.m.
After reading some of the comments here I thought it would be interesting to check with the university and see how many of each type of passes it gives out. The overwhelming majority of passes are blue. Gold: 1,676 Blue: 14,651 Yellow: 7,244 Orange: 2,762
pegret
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 5 p.m.
Haha...gives out?
djacks24
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 3:54 p.m.
It makes sense. Blue is less than half of what Gold costs and at least keeps you off of the bus and relatively within walking distance.
jcj
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 3:30 p.m.
I choose to take the attitude of the U of M and so many of its employees. It does not affect me I could care less!
Jay Thomas
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 3:01 a.m.
Yeah, most of them don't live here, and don't think the U should kick in a dime for any city services or roads.
a2citizen
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 10:22 p.m.
Please don't take offense if I use this comment in the future. I promise I will give you credit.
A2Momx2
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 2:30 p.m.
I don't understand why UM could not have purchased the fenced in land on the corner of Maiden Lane and Broadway. I am sure that they could have paved it and made 525 more parking spaces for a fraction of what the new parking garage will be.
A2Momx2
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 4:17 p.m.
I totally agree with you Solitude. Ross I was merely pointing out that there were other alternatives to millions of dollars being spent on a garage. Ross, everyone knows about the problems with this land and that UM does not own it. So "how about" a little less attitude.
Ross
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 3:48 p.m.
How about because some one else (a private developer) owns it. And then this developer got caught in the quagmire of a brownfield cleanup due to previous environmental contamination. But yeah, great explanation, solitude.
Solitude
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 3:27 p.m.
Because, A2Momx2, their goal is not efficiency and cost effectiveness. Their goal is spend as much as possible (but not out of the precious endowment) as often as possible in order to be able to continue to whine about "escalating costs" and complain about "devastating cuts in state funding."
arborani
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 1:31 p.m.
Paragraph 4 - shouldn't that increase year be 2017, not 2013 (as per the chart)?
Kellie Woodhouse
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 1:53 p.m.
Yes! Sorry for the error and thanks for pointing it out.
clownfish
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 1:05 p.m.
I see from the poll that quite a few people pay to park "at your place of employment". Who are the employers that charge their employees to park, other then The City and The UM?
Jay Thomas
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 2:58 a.m.
Way to confuse the issue. Most people are just on their own.
Jake C
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 11:46 p.m.
The question wasn't whether you pay your *employer* to park, but whether you pay to park near your place of employment. So that applies to a whole lot of people who work in Downtown Ann Arbor. Whether it's a parking pass, metered parking, or a parking structure, a lot of the people who work downtown also pay to park there. The alternative is trying to find free street parking in a nearby neighborhood, or do a park-and-ride along an AATA route (which is probably the most cost/time-effective solution as long as you plan your commute well).
trespass
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 1:04 p.m.
If parking were adequate, no one would buy a Gold pass. It is another UM scam on employees. Why is it that the cost of living increases are always less than the University budget increases? This should help pay the salary increase of the new head of Mott's Children's Hospital and President Coleman.
Jay Thomas
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 2:57 a.m.
Hey, that 46% salary increase for the new guy at Mott's is perfectly legitimate. Ora Pescowitz has to pay what she has to pay to get this kind of talent.
kfolger
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 12:54 p.m.
Why is money from parking going to help pay for the renovation of the campus recreation buildings and unions?
Jay Thomas
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 2:55 a.m.
To answer your question directly: Because the regents do whatever the administration tells them to. Capiche?
Kellie Woodhouse
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 4:15 p.m.
The funds for renovated gyms and unions are coming largely from this new student fee mentioned, a 23 percent increase in student ticket prices for football games and this $1 million annual parking contribution. Facilities is also reallocating $25M. http://www.annarbor.com/news/funding-university-of-michigan-gym-renovations/
PhillyCheeseSteak
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 2:12 p.m.
The Board of Regents agreed to institute a $65-per-term student fee, beginning fiscal year 2015, to pay for renovations of campus recreation buildings and unions.
dexterreader
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 12:47 p.m.
I park in the commuter lot and take the AATA bus ..... all free. Is it perfect? No. But all it costs me is a little more time to get to and from work each day. And it's more money in my pocket every payday.
justcurious
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 1:19 p.m.
I did the same before I retired. I parked at the Miller Park & Ride. But everyone's work schedule doesn't work with the bus schedule to and from the commuter lot. The bus didn't run during the middle of the day. Also, the commuter lot is getting pretty full now I notice.
BlueEyesGirl
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 1:18 p.m.
I do too... but I save so much in gas and frustration! My bus drops me off right in front of my building, so except for those mid-winter days when the bus is packed, it works for me.
Clinton Resident
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 12:34 p.m.
GoNavy, maybe you should work at the U before you try to make it sound like we are making gold. We DO NOT receive a 3% raise across the board. And our health benefits do not cover the family like you indicate. We do pay extra to have them covered. As for our jobs being "protected"??? I would like to know by whom????? I lost my job five years ago because of department down sizing. I had to fit to keep my foot in the door of the U. Do you know what that cost me???? And to have to pay to park...I don't think I need to say more about that, you get the drift. There are good things about the U, that is why some many people try to get a job there, but don't make sound like we should be giving them more and more. I think I already do that in the tasks I conduct pertaining to my "protected" job.
djacks24
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 3:42 p.m.
@Urban Sumbrero: Didn't say it was easy, but isn't impossible. Suck it up and have respect for what you have if you feel afraid to go out into the big bad private sector. Or else, make yourself more marketable. I actually do feel for the UM employees that have to deal with this parking mess. Paying for a parking spot (a.k.a hunting permit) just to then ride on a crowded bus to get close to your office. Unless you want to pay a fortune to park closer. Wasn't worth the headache for me. But whining wasn't going to change things (especially about the almighty UM which does what it will). So, now I am happily parking for free close to my office. Not to mention, I don't have to deal with driving through downtown to get where I'm going.
Urban Sombrero
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 3:01 p.m.
Yes, djacks. Because it's just THAT simple to quit and find another job with benefits in this economy/environment.
djacks24
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 2:03 p.m.
Here is a solution. Look for another job if you don't like it. Simple as that.
M-Wolverine
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 12:59 p.m.
Yes, GoNavy was 0-3 on his points. Families are not completely covered, and actually covering a family under the insurance could take most of your paycheck. There have been pay freezes as many years as there have been raises, and 3% is not the norm. And the hospital has had a 10% downsizing of costs (read: employees) that is causing a lot of jobs to not be "guaranteed." So I don't know where he's gettting his information, but it's all false.
leezee
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 12:31 p.m.
What I find amusing is that this fee for parking does not guarantee a parking spot - even if you have a gold permit. I recall a acquaintance from the business school who had one and lamented that he still had to arrive extra early each day to get a parking spot. He also said how he hated to leave the campus for off campus meeting because he would return to find no spot available. But my favorite is the social worker who, many times, parked illegally in one of parking structure where she was packed in so tightly that she had to crawl out of the back of her mini-van just so she could get to work on time.
Gownie
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 12:26 p.m.
All parking structures will need to be replaced at some time, and a number of aging university structures will require early replacement. Construction costs for structured parking are about $70,000 *per spot* (and rising). Add in operations and maintenance costs and you'll see that $700 per year doesn't come close the actual long-run cost of providing parking on the Central and Medical campuses. The current system is based on the assumption people who drive deserve a subsidy more than people who walk, cycle, or use transit.
Lake Trout
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 11:45 a.m.
Paying your employer to work for them certainly doesn't make any sense. Especially when that employer continues to cut benefits and raises the cost to the employee for health care. Obviously greedy and uncaring employer...
GoNavy
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 11:41 a.m.
The prices for either of these passes - Blue and Gold - are set too low as it is. It costs anywhere between $125-$145/mo to park in any of the City owned lots downtown ($1,500-$1740/yr). Of the two passes, only the Gold pass comes close to replicating what the average Ann Arbor commuter must pay. The Blue pass - which is by all means better than nearly any pass you can buy on the open market - is practically being given away. The University should put its money where its mouth is: Push employees to carpool, take public transportation, walk and ride, by doing what we all learned from Economics 101 works: Raising prices, in this case significantly.
hail2thevict0r
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 5:58 p.m.
GooNavy, I can tell you one thing. Those tuition increases are not going into pay increases at the staff level. Most staff members are getting less than a 3% raise every year, a larger majority around 1-2%, and when you're talking about raising parking 4.5%, that doesn't seem fair. Just my opinion. Let's not also forget that the benefits have also been severely cut for regular staff members. New employees have to wait an entire year before they can even be eligible to start paying into retirement benefits and healthcare costs have jumped by 25% or more in some cases just in the last 5 years. Now, I'm not saying University employees have it bad but you're using examples of how it used to be 10-15 years ago and applying it today, it's just not that way anymore. What's egregious IMO is that the Deans, and other higher ranking officials, are getting huge bonuses and being lured away from other schools with outrageous pay increases while everyone else is being consolidated.
GoNavy
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 2:12 p.m.
You people just don't get it. Everybody at the University has their hand out - the administrators, the professors, the ancillary staff, the GSIs, the Lecturers, the groundskeepers. Everybody. Tuition at the University has risen at an annualized rate of 5.7% for the past 10 years. That means that tuition is 74% higher today than it was in 2003. 74%. The mission of this University appears to be slowly, but consistently, changing from educating the youth of the State of Michigan into what is essentially a professional welfare program for employees lucky enough to land a golden job. Guaranteed raises, generous retirement benefits, gold-plated healthcare, and numerous other benefits (cash and otherwise) contribute to what can only be characterized as a fleecing of the students of this state. Is a University of Michigan education 74% better today than it was in 2003? If you can say "yes" with a straight face, I'd say you're dunk on the Kool-Aid.
Ignatz
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 1:17 p.m.
I wouldn't mind being "pushed" to use public transit if that was a viable option. As it is, the system is filled with too many holes in terms of routes and frequency. It's not a real option if it takes 1.5 hours to get to work on a bus, if it takes less that 30 to get there with private transportation.
Lake Trout
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 11:49 a.m.
How about they encourage their employees to WANT to work for them. Bet they have some of the highest employment turn-over of all the large downtown employers. And as for parking - the City has gone crazy with parking fees and is driving (Ha!) people away from coming downtown. I for one do not go anywhere near downtown unless I absolutly have to.
zigziggityzoo
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 11:33 a.m.
Instead of paying for permits, they should assume the entire cost, and give a refund on the check for those who choose not to utilize parking. It seems a little weird that one should have to pay their employer for the ability to drive to work.
Carole
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 10:44 a.m.
Surely hope that the employees get pay raises to accommodate the raises in the cost of parking.
Jay Thomas
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 2:53 a.m.
If only that was the case for the workers in the private sector who come downtown everyday. The Ivory Tower, still standing. ;)
Ken
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 8:51 p.m.
@Carole & Norainnorainbow WHAT RAISES???!! The U is broke! The only folks who got raises are in the Flemming Building and the Ivory Tower on East Med!
Audion Man
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 2:32 p.m.
I don't understand this mindset that employers are honor-bound to do whatever it takes to make as much money as possible- and this is honorable thing that must be worshiped. But when an employee wants to make more money and have more benefits- it is *gasp* entitlement and is a personality defect. Further, I wish the right-wingers would stop trying to impose the entrepreneurial model onto *EVERYTHING*. The University isn't a mom and pop shop with a risk-taking, go getter at the helm trying to fulfill his/her dream being sabotaged by greedy employees. It is a huge, powerful institution that throws its weight around, and has considerable influence over public policy- that overcompensates its administrators often at the expense of its staff and students.
djacks24
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 1:37 p.m.
Mostly, you must prove you are worth the extra money for a raise. Or at least take on more responsibility. Of course there are cases where you a hired in at a training level until you've earned adequate experience to merit more pay. What is your market value for what you do? This is public employee entitlement expecting to be compensated just for holding a position for a certain amount of time. Then some complain when they don't believe it's enough. If you look at the proof (http://www.umsalary.info/), just about everyone gets a annual increase. In the private sector, if this were the case, then you should be concerned. Because at any time you could be traded in for someone willing to work cheaper (new college grad, FB-1 visa). Just like it goes in the private sector. If are aren't satisfied, look for another job.
Nicholas Urfe
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 12:42 p.m.
Owning a car is expensive. By choosing to own a car you assume those costs.
Laurie Barrett
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 12:12 p.m.
The hospital is a great place to work, but it isn't the great place to work that it used to be, Navy. I think the theme here is that it keeps squeezing employees. It certainly was a fantastic place to work years ago, hence the reputation for outstanding benefits. Not so much now as then. Better than most but no longer "The Golden Coffin." Employees in the unions or the administration enjoy a great set of benefits. The blue collar strata of employees are better off than people who work digging ditches but the erosion of benefits does hurt them more than it hurts the elite. 2% of 24k isn't much compared to 3% of 150k. Some years it's 0. After 15 years at the blue collar level an employee is lucky to have advanced in real income or amassed a healthy retirement account, though the elites prosper. The double matching of retirement contributions in lieu of actual retirement means relatively little for 24k earners as opposed to 150k earners. The hospital's heart and soul are more money oriented than they used to be . . . it's not as employee friendly as it used to be (what corporation is other than Google and silicon valley?), and it's kind of a contraption at times, but it's still a great place to work! Most people feel grateful to be able to work there and just want the institution to change for the better.
GoNavy
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 11:48 a.m.
@norainnorainbow: As always, the focus on cash compensation by individuals in your position ignores completely the extremely generous non-cash compensation offered by the University. The healthcare - by any measure "gold plated" - ranks first and foremost. Families are often completely covered. Deferred retirement compensation comes in at a close #2: The University matches 2-for-1 anything you put in up to 10% of your salary. There's the group life insurance, long-term disability, and (literally) tens of smaller programs which add up to a significant amount of compensation. We don't even need to go on about the fact that your job is highly protected - the University barely has to "fight" for revenue as a private company does; the money simply rolls in every year. Generous 3% raises are given practically across the board, as per the salary information that has been made public. "Only $30k" is far from reality. Ask yourself how well you're doing vs. an individual who earns $30k at Walmart.
leezee
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 11:38 a.m.
Ha, ha and ha.
norainnorainbow
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 11:32 a.m.
I seriously doubt that raises will be commensurat, especially for us low level employees. A one or two percent raise doesn't go far when you are only $30k or so per year.
justcurious
Tue, May 14, 2013 : 10:55 a.m.
The employees always get a reminder of how much the U is "chipping in" toward their parking rates on their payroll stub. I always found that amusing when I worked there...they were "chipping in" to themselves....and I was paying them to park in order to get to my job.