Alford raise a hard reminder

The nearly quarter-million dollar pay raise for University of New Mexico basketball coach Steve Alford was a frustrating reminder of the four years faculty and staff have gone without pay increases.

Although they support Alford and his Lobos, faculty and staff say it’s time to see their own wages grow.

UNM Faculty and staff last year did receive a one-time supplement of $1,100, but the economic recession has led to dwindling state support for universities. In turn, UNM has been unable to afford pay raises. At the same time, employees have had to increase their contributions to their retirement fund.

Alford, who is the Mountain West Conference’s coach of the year, signed a new, 10-year contract last week that will keep him on board through 2023 and pay him as much as $2 million per season. The new deal also includes $65,000 for pay raises for assistant coaches. The university will pay for the increase through basketball ticket sales.

UNM president Bob Frank pointed out that 80 percent of athletic revenue is self-generated, and that the basketball program will pay for Alford’s raise.

“We highly value faculty and staff at this university. Their role is critical to UNM’s success, just as Coach Alford is to the success of our Lobo basketball team,” Frank said.

Faculty Senate President Amy Neel said faculty members “understand the big money in sports and (that) it’s not unique to New Mexico that coaches get big raises.”

But it’s time faculty receive more appropriate compensation, she said.

“I think what I keep focusing on is that the state of New Mexico and the University of New Mexico have to start investing in faculty and staff if they want to carry out the important missions of higher education,” Neel said. Neel has asked university regents to approve a 6 percent pay raise for all faculty next fiscal year, which begins July 1. Neel said she constantly hears about employees who are looking for jobs elsewhere because UNM does not pay enough. Full professors at other research universities comparable to UNM make about $13,000 more annually, she said.

Neel said it’s possible regents will approve a small raise, but a more substantial one would probably mean increasing tuition. Gov. Susana Martinez is also considering a 1 percent pay raise for state workers and teachers approved by the Legislature. “We know students in the state of New Mexico are not wildly wealthy. It’s very difficult to say when the state doesn’t come through with pay increases then they have to pay that burden,” she said.

Staff Council President Mary Clark said she worried Martinez would not approve the 1 percent pay increase. Clark, too, has been lobbying regents for an increase for staff.

“In terms of Coach Alford, you know, I’m a Lobo fan, and many people are Lobo fans. He has a performance contract, and he performed,” Clark said.
— This article appeared on page A6 of the Albuquerque Journal