UW-L chancellor sees 3% raises necessary to retain talent

A three percent raise for both the next two years is a start.

UW-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow feels they’re necessary to keep attracting and retaining employees within the University of Wisconsin System.

The Board of Regents just recommended those raises for each of the next two years of the biennium last week.

“I think it will help us to make salaries more competitive,” Gow said. “There will certainly be more work to be done because other institutions are always raising their salaries, too, and we start from a place where we’re a little behind.”

Raises haven’t come for UW employees in two of the last three biennial state budgets. They received a one percent annual pay increases in the 2013-15 budget.

“You get people who are here for awhile and they want to stay, they love the university, but they get a better offer, particularly from the Minnesota schools, who have a history of paying better,” Gow said. “When we at the university have the most influence is when we hire someone. The only time they’re going to get salary increases is if there is a promotion and then also if there are these pay plan increases.”

The legislature will ultimately make the decision to approve or deny the request.