Salaries were not an issue on campuses until recent years. This view was to the advantage of administrators, who could pay less. Into the early 1990s, salaries lagged behind inflation, but now they are keeping pace, and compared with the deflated consumer price index that many economists believe to be more accurate, faculty salaries have gained on inflation. But compared with other professionals, such as those in law and medicine, faculty are losing ground. Field differences in salaries are huge and growing.
Gender differences remain.
Many thought that over time, as women advanced in rank, the differences would even out. In fields like computer science, men and women faculty are paid roughly the same. This is the branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that provides technical assistance to private landowners and agencies on matters of soil and water conservation and habitat management. In addition to soil and water program, other majors in natural resources include natural resource management, park management, and natural resources law enforcement. A new major in wildlife management will begin in fall 2000.