University of Montana needs to improve pay to attract professors

During the current legislative session, ASUM has been heavily promoting Gov. Brian Schweitzer’s tuition cap, which would hold in-state tuition costs at their current levels for the next two years. Although there is certainly nothing wrong with freezing tuition, the plan does not bring increased funding to the cash-strapped Montana University System, but instead temporarily shifts some costs from the students onto the state.

While keeping tuition low should be a priority, the University of Montana will soon face another hurdle: the eventual need to replace many retiring faculty and staff members that are part of the gigantic baby boomer generation. But with some of the lowest average faculty salaries in the nation, UM cannot attract quality professors and administrators away from the more lucrative jobs in the private sector.

Sean Breslin
Montana Kaimin

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