Employees receive bonus checks in October
In order to remain a competitive institution, USC must attract and retain well-qualified faculty, staff and administration. To do so, the university must offer decent salaries and financial incentives.
USC seems to be taking a step in the right direction. In October, it will offer bonuses to some faculty members who make less than $100,000 per year. We commend the university for allocating the funds to dole out these bonuses. It's nice to see good performance appreciated and lower-paid employees shown financially just how much they matter.
Keep in mind, these people haven't had a raise since 2008. We can all agree it's about time.
But a one-time bonus isn't enough. USC needs to find a way to continue to raise faculty's salaries. Costs of living, transportation and all the other day-to-day expenses have increased in the last three years, and will only continue to do so. These employees' annual pay must increase as well.
Clemson and other institutions around the southeast have found manageable ways to give their employees permanent pay raises. USC needs to do the same — find a mechanism in its budget to continue to raise the salaries of those who make the university run on the basic level.
Saying thank you with a bonus is nice, don't get us wrong, but these employees work year after year to give us excellent educations, and they deserve more.
If faculty and staff continue to do a great job, they should continue to be appreciated. The university should reward hardworking educators by either offering bonuses more frequently or giving out permanent pay raises.
One way or the other, let's hope it doesn't take another three years.
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