TUSM Basic Science Faculty Resolution on the Merits

of the Salary Reduction Plan

We, the undersigned tenured basic science faculty of Tufts University School of Medicine

1) Request an immediate moratorium of faculty salary reduction plan implemented by the TUSM adminisitration

2) Request good-faith negotiations to craft a mutually agreeable plan that reflects contributions by research, teaching and service.

Given the current climate of grant funding, the current plan is excessively and unnecessarily punitive. A metric that assesses just one of the many functions of a tenured faculty member should not be used to sanction a faculty member. Using only the most recent 3-year window to judge all faculty, some of whom have consistently brought in most of their salary for more than 20 years, is inconsistent with the long-term mission of the University and basic principles of fairness. Lack of consideration of the entire record of a tenured faculty member undermines tenure, which is intended to provide a degree of stability for the institution as well as economic security for its faculty. A 25 per cent reduction in salary based on retroactive criteria to be enacted in 6 months time is unreasonable.

The plan represents an attack on academic freedom because it jeopardizes the economic security granted by the Board of Trustees to its tenured faculty. The rights and responsibilities of tenured faculty at TUSM have been established by decades of common practice and expectations.

But the most important effect of the salary reduction plan proposed by the Administration will be its long-term impact on the Medical School and the University. It is a highly divisive plan with a negative effect on the morale of the Faculty at a time with a prolonged NIH budget decrease that is beyond our control. Furthermore, recruitment and retention of top-tier research scientists will be more difficult at an institution willing to cut salaries due to uncontrollable external factors. If faculty retention and recruitment suffer, the negative impact on our students and University will be substantial.

TUSM Basic Science Faculty Resolution on the Merits

of the Salary Reduction Plan

We, the undersigned tenured basic science faculty of Tufts University School of Medicine

1) Request an immediate moratorium of faculty salary reduction plan implemented by the TUSM administration

2) Request good faith negotiations to craft a mutually agreeable plan that reflects contributions by research, teaching and service.

Given the current climate of grant funding, the current plan is excessively and unnecessarily punitive. A metric that assesses just one of the many functions of a tenured faculty member should not be used to sanction a faculty member. Using only the most recent 3-year window to judge all faculty, some of whom have consistently brought in most of their salary for more than 20 years, is inconsistent with the long-term mission of the University and basic principles of fairness. Lack of consideration of the entire record of a tenured faculty member undermines tenure, which is intended to provide a degree of stability for the institution as well as economic security for its faculty. A 25 per cent reduction in salary based on retroactive criteria to be enacted in 6 months time is unreasonable.

The plan represents an attack on academic freedom because it jeopardizes the economic security granted by the Board of Trustees to its tenured faculty. The rights and responsibilities of tenured faculty at TUSM have been established by decades of common practice and expectations.

But the most important effect of the salary reduction plan proposed by the Administration will be its long-term impact on the Medical School and the University. It is a highly divisive plan with a negative effect on the morale of the Faculty at a time with a prolonged NIH budget decrease that is beyond our control. Furthermore, recruitment and retention of top-tier research scientists will be more difficult at an institution willing to cut salaries due to uncontrollable external factors. If faculty retention and recruitment suffer, the negative impact on our students and University will be substantial.

We, the faculty, have a long history of remarkable synergistic interactions with the Administration to solve important problems. The bridge funding policy, Masters in Biomedical Sciences program, and the New Curriculum are recent examples of this cooperative spirit. Since the current economic crisis began in October, the faculty has offered openly and often to work with the Administration on this problem. We continue to stand ready to help the School to advance the important research and education missions.