President Bob Bottoms dismissed concerns about possible tension created by the Ubben chairs and other reward programs. He pointed to the number of distinguished positions, which will reach 85 when the Ubben chairs take full effect. He said the number, which constitutes 42 percent of the faculty, will give nearly every deserving professor the chance for recognition. Not all professors oppose the awards. Wade Hazel, professor of biology, said he has no problem with merit systems, as long as they are done fairly.
Merit pay is just a extension of that.
Hazel also said that it is necessary to keep the Ubben chairs fair, adding that faculty participation in the decision-making will ensure that. He said he is concerned, though, that it will be unfair to the larger departments if only one chair per department is granted. A way to fix this, he proposed, is to rotate the chairs in the larger departments more often.