ACF Update on the Status of AEI
February 25, 2006

While there are several AEI bills supporting incremental pay for full-time faculty, the Plymale/Edgell bill, SB587, will likely be the bill that will move forward on this issue. There is one week more in the process, so Higher Education Faculty engagement is absolutely essential. At this point in time, the bill has followed this scenario:

Senate Education Committee has passed SB587. The bill summary reads thus, at this point in time: “Allows the yearly increment salary increase of $50 per years of service for faculty. Nine or more month contracts equal a year’s service. Only for full-time faculty. (See ACF website for faculty position on AEI.)

Senate Finance Committee currently has SB587. Higher Education Faculty and supporters need to contact Senate Finance Committee Members to ask for full-funding. The difference between the $2,026,368 that the Governor allocated for AEI in the budget and the actual cost of $3,123,708 is $1,097,340. Faculty are asking for full-funding. The Senate Finance Committee will meet Monday, February 27, at 3:00 p.m. Members of the Senate Finance Committee are Walt Helmick, Chair; William R. Sharpe, Vice-Chair; Bailey, Boley, Bowman, Chafin, Edgell, Facemyer, Guills, Love, McCabe, Minear, Plymale, Prezioso, Sprouse, Unger, Yoder. To ask for full-funding, contact your local representatives at http://www.legis.state.wv.us/committees/senate/finance/sencomFIN.cfm.

House Committees to rule on AEI. The Faculty position has strong support in the House Education Committee under Del. Campbell’s leadership. The key committee will be House Finance. Faculty should contact their legislators to encourage full funding. Members of the House Finance Committee are Harold Michael, Chair; John Doyle, Vice-Chair; Mike Hall, Minority Chair; William Anderson, Minority Vice-Chair; Ashley, Boggs, Border, Browning, Cann, Carmichael, Evans, Frederick, Houston, Kominar, Leach, Palumbo, Proudfoot, Stalnaker, Susman, Ron Thompson, Varner, Wakim, H.K. White, Gill White, Williams. Contact your local representative at http://www.legis.state.wv.us/committees/house/finance/hcomFIN.cfm.

Harold Michael noted in our meeting with him February 24 that John Doyle (Vice-Chair and House Finance representative on the Education Committee) was the key person to shepherd this legislation through House Finance. John Doyle told ACF Chair Shurbutt that he did not agree with the Higher Education Faculty position on AEI. He will need our encouragement. If he doesn’t hear from us, he will conclude we are disengaged. http://www.legis.state.wv.us/House/Members/delegatesinfo.cfm?input=Delegate%20Doyle