Suggested AAUP-BHSNJ Model for Faculty Equity Narratives
Below are suggested guidelines on how to write the narrative that will accompany your application for an equity adjustment. You will need to specify your case depending on the standards used to judge merit/professional accomplishments in your school/unit.
IMPORTANT:
You must keep your narrative to 2-3 pages and make it easy to read.
You MUST identify individual comparators, i.e., faculty members who have similar or fewer accomplishments, but whose salary is higher than yours. Given the way the university has structured this process, your salary can only be judged in relation to others’ salaries. You cannot just write a summary of your accomplishments.
1. Write a one paragraph summary of your case.
Example: “I believe my annual salary is inconsistent with my experience, my professional accomplishments and my contributions to the university, my discipline and the community, in comparison to my peers [to my male peers; to my peers at X campus]. My current salary is XX% less than the average of X peers at my rank [or even XX% of those at a rank below me….] and xx% lower than my relative comparators. I request a fair and equitable salary adjustment that comports with the faculty comparators I identify below. “
2. Create a Table with comparator information. You can use a template like the one below.
Table with two (or more) comparators should include name, rank, time at rank, years of service, salary, salary differential from yours
| Name | Department | School | Rank | FTE | Years of service | Rutgers Base salary | Rutgers variable salary and/or supplement | Differential | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ME | OB-GYN | NJMS | Professor | 1.0 | 29 years (1990) | $125,000 | |||
| Professor W | OB-GYN | NJMS | Professor | 1.0 | 15 years (2004) | $150,000 | $25,000 | ||
| Professor X | OB-GYN | NJMS | Professor | 1.0 | 10 years (2009) | $275,000 | $150,000 | ||
| Professor Y | OB-GYN | NJMS | Professor | 1.0 | 7 years (2012) | $275,000 | $150,000 | ||
| Professor Z | OB-GYN | NJMS | Professor | 1.0 | 21 years (1998) | $300,000 | $175,000 |
3. Summarize your accomplishments relative to your comparators.
You should create subsections for relevant categories of achievement. These categories will differ, depending on your unit and the standards, but may at least include the following.
NOTE: We understand that you may have limited information about your comparators, but just do the best that you can in doing DIRECT or EQUIVALENT comparisons.
3 a. Clinical productivity/patient care (if applicable)
In one-two paragraphs (or in bullet points), summarize your clinical accomplishments, relevant to your unit/dept/rank. Ex: wRVU benchmarks, collections, achievement of value metrics, grateful patients, etc
--Comparators’ Clinical Accomplishments: In as much as you can, roughly compare your accomplishments to those of your comparators. Ex: My comparators have less wRVUs, or clinical revenue, recognition for patient care, worse outcomes, etc.
3 b. Research Accomplishments (if applicable)
In one-two paragraphs (or in bullet points), summarize your research accomplishments, relevant to your unit/dept/rank. Ex: Publications (Books, journal articles, chapters in books, edited volumes); Research Grants, Honors and Awards (as signs of national/international stature).
--Comparators’ Research Accomplishments: In as much as you can, roughly compare your accomplishments to those of your comparators. Ex: “In comparison to Profs B and C, I have published [equivalent or greater in quality/quantity] and my work has been more highly recognized, etc.”
3 c. Service
In one-two paragraphs (or in bullet points), Summarize your service accomplishments (not your whole career, but highlights of your strengths), such as university, departmental and/or community service.
--Comparators’ Service Record: Ex: Compared to Prof. Y and Prof. Z comparators, I have provided more service, have received more awards, etc. BRIEF summary.
3 d. Teaching
In one-two paragraphs (or in bullet points), Summarize your MAJOR accomplishments in each category of your graduate, undergraduate, clinical, etc. teaching (not a summary of all your teaching) as well as teaching awards/recognition.
--Comparator’s Teaching Record: Ex: Compared to Prof B or C, I have served on more committees, developed unique curricula, etc.
3 e. Add other Categories such as, International Recognition, building a research/service center, etc. as relevant.
--Comparators’ in each category, as relevant
4. As relevant, address other factors beyond the above measures, such as time at rank, years of service, salary compression, etc. that might be relevant to salary differentials. For example:
--Time at rank:
As an Associate until 2007, I both earned less than Prof. X with greater years at my rank and less than Prof. Y with fewer years at my rank.
--Salary compression:
Although I earn just 2-3% more than the Assistant professor X, below my rank, I also earned 20% less than Profs X and Z at my rank
--External market interest:
I have had several offers during my career, but those offers have not received the same consideration. For example, Assistant professor X received an offer at State University and ultimately received a retention raise of $10,000. I received an offer from Ivy University and received a retention raise of $2,000.
--Annual evaluations:
I have received excellent annual evaluations, My chair praised me for X.
5. Conclusion
EX: I believe my many accomplishments…in XYZ have not received adequate recognition and thereby request an appropriate, equitable adjustment in my salary. I look forward to working with you to correct this inequity.