Challenge for the Future at Mary Washington: Identifying and Compensating New Professors – A Peer Study (data compiled by McGrath Educational Services)

As part of my search for meaningful data, I stumbled upon an interesting tidbit. If one were to examine a particular university which is driving to upgrade its status and "brand name" in the collegiate community, one way to do so would be by identifying, properly paying, and retaining its young professors. The University of Mary Washington (formerly Mary Washington College) in Fredericksburg, VA could be identified as one of those schools. For the record, I have no ties to UMW and culled this information out as part of an analysis on the general professor salaries in the Southeastern United states as well as Virginia. I particularly like the comparison to Christopher Newport University, a school in my town of Newport News, which makes no secret of its desire to become the "Harvard on the James (River)"

In recent years, there has been a movement at the University of Mary Washington (UMW) designed to enhance the stature and “brand name” of the institution. The long-term objective is to build the school into a top-flight college with a strong reputation in the Southeastern United States, as well as nationwide.

The first step in this direction occurred when the school’s name was changed from Mary Washington College in 2004. The latest expansion projects, Eagle Village and the William M. Anderson Center, completed in the past two years at a cost of $115 million, are further examples of institutional progress.

McGrath Educational Services was “hired” to conduct a study – one which would make recommendations on how the school can better hire and retain young professors for its various programs. After an initial consultation, it was agreed to work on a professor salary study.

To understand UMW’s place among “peer” schools, one must understand the identity of UMW. Currently, there are almost 4,400 undergraduate students, mostly women (64%). UMW is a four-year institution and accepts first year students on a full-time basis.

To find the peer schools for UMW, the first database studied was from SCHEV (Schools and Colleges of Higher Education in Virginia). Their list was not accepted because of the influx of Northeast and Midwest schools. However, an initial list was developed from the NCES (National Center for Educational Statistics). The list of 36 was narrowed to 15, all four-year schools with 1,000-5,000 students, located in the Southeast. Here is how UMW compares in average associate and assistant professor salaries:

Institution Associate Professor Assistant Professor Lecturer Bluefield State College 54512 49705 40356 Christopher Newport University 73087 56727 50135 Citadel Military College of South Carolina 68140 56117 49000 Elizabeth City State University 69438 62321 56294 Fairmont State University 58099 48707 40984 Francis Marion University 59881 53130 47499 Henderson State University 53048 48999 38809 Kentucky State University 58303 47373 41248 Longwood University 62978 53778 56383 Shepherd University 61370 52865 Blank South Carolina State University 61272 57489 43430 The University of Virginia's College at Wise 60041 55810 43300 University of Mary Washington 63386 53768 52667 University of North Carolina at Asheville 67703 61218 Blank Virginia Military Institute 62789 52005 41514

The findings from the initial search suggested that while some valuable information was gained from the salary comparison, it would be advantageous to perform another search to clarify the findings. It was decided that the second search would be restricted to all four-year schools in Virginia.

Based on the results of the second search, the data now shows new trends, especially as to where UMW ranks among its peer schools in Virginia, of which there are as many as five. The new breakdown looks as follows:

	Avg. Salary		Avg. Salary		Avg. Salary
	9 Mos.		9 Mos.		9 Mos.
	Associate		Ass't		Instructor
	Professors		Professors
	2010-11		2010-11		2010-11
Christopher Newport University	73087		56727		50135
College of William and Mary	81108		66312		42922
George Mason University	83149		68538		55845
James Madison University	66941		58357		50003
Longwood University	62978		53778		56383
Norfolk State University	69299		56575		50499
Old Dominion University	73816		66627		44942
Radford University	64910		56717		49010
UVA-Wise	60041		55810		43277
U. Mary Washington	62768		53877		52561
U. of Virginia	92539		76654		50815
VCU	78471		62387		47568
VMI	62789		52005		41514
Virginia Tech	82021		70900		45009
Virginia State	64425		64613		50184

This comparison provided more meaningful data. For average salary paid to associate professors, assistant professors and instructors, UMW is on par or slightly below schools such as Radford, Longwood, VMI, Virginia State and U. Virginia-Wise. However, a deeper analysis shows that UMW is in the high range (3rd of 15) for compensating lecturers. In a matchup against Christopher Newport, a future athletics (Capital Athletics Conference) rival and school of roughly the same demographics, there is a significant difference. UMW is approximately 5% (for assistant professors) and 15% (associate) behind CNU for average salary. Also, UMW is 20-30% behind the College of William and Mary and 35-40% behind the University of Virginia. There are several recommendations. First, in order to attract and retain younger professors, UMW needs to stay ahead of the average salaries of its “peer” schools. Second, because Fredericksburg is now considered part of Northern Virginia, and has a high cost-of-living expense, UMW also needs tom keep its average professor salaries competitive with CNU, which is the highest paying peer school. UMW should also aim to close the gap with W&M, VA Tech, GMU and U. VA. If this cannot be accomplished, alternative retention methods should be found, such as providing accessible affordable housing in Spotsylvania and Caroline Counties.