TTU Conducting Compensation Study To Stay Competitive With Market

Tennessee Tech is in the process of a campus wide compensation study to target any gaps in pay among faculty and staff.

President Phil Oldham said the university is trying to stay competitive with other markets. Oldham said finding talent for strategic positions such as research administration has been challenge.

‘We’re competing with a lot of other institutions for a fairly limited group of individuals that would be at that level,” Oldham said. “That puts more pressure on us to find the right fit.”

Oldham said the office of research has a few vacant positions including a Vice President. Trustee Dan Alcott in a recent Board of Trustees committee called for action saying the university needs to pivot to the current market. Alcott said the university has struggled to keep research positions.

Oldham said the feedback from the study will guide budgets moving forward. Oldham said another factor that has lead to workers leaving is the availability of remote work.

Oldham said for now, Dr. Carl Pinkert who has lead research efforts at other institutions will lead the office. Oldham said he will serve more as a consultant role to help guide the office while it is between leadership.