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May 2024 Board Meeting Summary

May 31st, 2024

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff Members, 

We write with a summary of the May Board of Managers meeting that took place early this month.

As it typically does in May, the Board approved the College’s annual operating budget. The upcoming budget, which takes effect on July 1, represents a nearly 6% increase over the current operating budget, with the Board approving several significant investments to strengthen the student experience and our collective ability to fulfill the College’s mission. 

For instance, we are continuing to fund the SEPTA Key Advantage UPass Program for students, which we piloted this past academic year. The program provides students with access to free transportation to Philadelphia and across the region during the academic year, enhancing students’ living and learning experiences at the College. The budget will also support an increase in the Textbook Affordability Program (TAP) funds to $800 per student. Every student receives TAP funds to help ensure that they have access to required course material. We will also extend a pilot program that provides free laptops to incoming students receiving financial aid who don’t have access to an adequate computer of their own. 

The Budget Office will send more details on the approved fiscal year 2024-25 operating budget to departmental financial managers in the weeks ahead.

2024-25 Salary Increases
The Board appreciates the critical role that Swarthmore student workers, faculty, and staff members play in supporting the College’s mission and approved the following salary and wage increases, which will go into effect July 1:

    • Staff Members: Staff members hired prior to April 1 will receive a 4% pay increase. Staff members hired between April 1 and May 31 will receive a prorated increase based upon their hire date. We are also increasing the minimum wage for hourly staff members from $17 per hour to $18.50 per hour and making market adjustments for others in corresponding roles. In addition, we are pleased to share that the Board committed to increasing the minimum wage for all hourly staff members to $20 per hour in the next fiscal year, beginning July 1, 2025.
       
    • Faculty Members: The Board approved a 4% increase to the faculty and instructional staff salary pool, which is designed to meet the College’s longstanding commitment to pay assistant, associate, and full professors 102.5% of the average of our peer institutions. The Provost’s Office has communicated more detailed information directly to department and program chairs.
       
    • Student Workers: Last year, we raised the minimum wage for most student workers to $15 per hour and pledged to do so for all students this coming fiscal year. The Board approved a measure to fulfill that commitment; effective July 1, all student workers will receive a 10% increase, which will raise the minimum wage for student workers to $15 per hour.

The Board paid tribute to two special areas of the College celebrating milestone anniversaries. The Scott Arboretum is celebrating its 95th year of providing an exquisite garden of ideas that routinely lands Swarthmore on lists of America’s most beautiful campuses. This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the Chester Children’s Chorus providing an intensive and joyful music and academic experience to young people from the city of Chester. Our thanks and congratulations to the many members of our community who support these areas of the College. 

The Board also recognized two Managers who will conclude their service on the Board effective June 30: Marilyn Holifield ’69 and H. Vincent Poor. On behalf of the Swarthmore community, we extend our gratitude to Marilyn and Vince for volunteering so much of their time and creative energy to the College. The Board also approved four new Managers, who will be announced later this summer.

Once again, thank you for all of your work this past year. Our best for an enjoyable and rejuvenating summer. 

 

Sincerely, 

Tomoko Sakomura
Acting Co-President
Provost and Dean of the Faculty and Professor of Art History

Rob Goldberg
Acting Co-President
Vice President for Finance and Administration