Notre Dame announces funding to increase base pay for University staff

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame President Rev. John I. Jenkins announced a $25 million commitment to increase the base compensation for eligible hourly and salaried University staff, faculty and student workers.

Approximately 6,000 Notre Dame employees in South Bend and across the world will be impacted by the changes, which go into effect on August 1.

"The work of Notre Dame is done by you, the dedicated faculty and staff I am proud to call colleagues," said Jenkins.  "We are grateful for your daily efforts to serve our students, our community and the world, and I am delighted that we are able to make this momentous investment in you."

Eligible faculty and staff will receive a 3 percent pay raise while staff hourly wages will be raised to a minimum of $17.50 per hour, and student hourly employee wages will start at $15 per hour.

The announcement on Thursday introduces the third component in the university's three-phase compensation enhancement strategy that surpasses $75 million in total.

"Phase one of this plan occurred in April when the University funded a fourteen-million-dollar one-time employee appreciation monetary award for eligible employees," said Executive Vice President Shannon Cullinan.  "In phase two, fifty million dollars was distributed in the largest merit pool in the history of the University and the changes announced for phase three total twenty-five million dollars."

The overall investment in recurring compensation is the largest in the University's 180-year history.

In a letter to campus, the executive officers said that this increase will have no impact on student tuition or financial aid.