University of Wisconsin mid-level administrators will receive a higher pay raise this year than many of their counterparts nationwide, according to a report released last month.

With a 4.3 percent pay hike for the 2006-07 academic year, UW System administrative salaries were ahead of the median 3.8 percent salary increase mid-level administrators received across the country, according to a College and University Professional Association for Human Resources survey.

However, despite university administrators receiving a higher pay bump than the national average, UW System administrative salaries still lag behind other similarly sized universities, according to Kate Dixon, spokesperson for the UW System.

"Even with that increase this year, when we look at all of our employees put together in the UW System, we are 8.5 percent behind what our peers make at respective colleges and universities," Dixon said.

All UW System employees, including administrators, received a 2 percent pay increase in July 2006 and will receive an additional 2.25 percent increase this month as part of the pay plan for the academic year, according to Margaret Harrigan, UW senior policy and planning analyst.

The total 4.3 percent salary hike puts UW administrators above the nation's median pay raise on a percent-increase basis, but overall university salaries still fall below those of their peers.

Al Crist, associate vice president for human resources for the UW System, said system salaries lag behind the national average for all levels of administrative, research, instructional, professional and student support academic staff.

According to Dixon, state support for higher education plays a factor in faculty pay.

"The increase depends on the amount of state funding for the university, and there hasn't been as much available in recent years," Dixon said.

Four years ago, state appropriations required the UW System to cut its requested budget by $250 million, which in part was offset by $150 million in tuition increases. During the last budget cycle, the system was required to cut its requested budget by $90 million.

Compared to the 3.3 percent median increase for mid-level employees in 2005, the 3.8 percent pay raise nationwide in 2006 was the largest in three years.

According to the survey, mid-level administrators are comprised of employees such as network engineers, data administrators, computer operators, information technology support specialists and help desk specialists.

The results from the survey indicated that the median increase was much higher in public universities than private ones in 2006-07 — which is the exact opposite of last year's findings.

With the low pay — as well as a lack of domestic partner benefits — UW System institutions may face future problems in recruiting and retaining top administrators.

"We are currently at a disadvantage in recruiting and retaining individuals with domestic partners because we can not offer health insurance benefits for domestic partners," Harrigan said.

However, Dixon said she feels the UW System is making some adjustments to help with a salary increase for all UW System employees.

"The Board of Regents wants the state to help fund a pay plan of 5 percent in each of the next two years," Dixon said.

In his 2007-09 budget, Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle has proposed completely funding the UW System's operational expenses and the Growth Agenda for Wisconsin, totaling more than $21.5 million.

Doyle has also proposed offering domestic partner benefits to all state employees, including UW System faculty and staff.

Dixon said the regents are hopeful the state will fund domestic partner benefits, which she said would contribute to a more positive work environment.