If the total compensation package is compared, including health benefits, Alabama teachers would be very close to the national average in total compensation. Teacher salaries in Alabama currently rank the state 23rd nationally. By contrast, the average salaries for faculty in higher education in this state rank Alabama 43rd nationally, worse than K-12 was five years ago. All of us must work to keep the legislature from caving in to the pressure of Dr. Paul Hubbert and the Alabama Education Association on this issue. If teaching is to be truly valued in this state, it needs to be valued at every level, not just at K 12.
Higher education needs an equitable share of the resources.
At the April board meeting, we will be presenting to the Trustees a recommendation for an academic forgiveness policy. This is in response to a specific request. I have been pleased with the discussions that have taken place on both campuses between faculty and students concerning the development of an appropriate policy for the University. I am hopeful that we can reach reasonable concurrence on such a policy that can be presented to the Trustees for their consideration. The debate on this issue is important, as any policy we adopt should attempt to balance the need to protect the academic reputation of the institution with the desire to provide students with some limited means to recover from a bad academic experience.