After a year-and-a-half of hardship and uncertainty, EPCC is welcoming faculty and staff back for the fall semester with more than just open arms.
At a special Board of Trustees meeting on Saturday, August 6, members voted 6-0 to approve a 2-percent across-the-board pay increase for the 2021-2022 academic year.
In addition, the Board approved a one-time pay incentive of $1,500 for full-time employees and $1,000 for part-time employees.
The 2-percent increase will first be reflected on the September, 2021, payroll, while the one-time incentive payments are scheduled to be disbursed in October, 2021.
According to the EPCC Financial and Administrative Operations department, to receive the one-time incentive pay, both full-time and part-time employees will have had to be on the payroll as of February 28, 2021, and still active on September 1, 2021.
Although never fully shutting down, EPCC has operated mostly remotely for most classes since the Covid-19 pandemic forced the college district to close many of its facilities in March, 2020.
After spending over two hours in executive session at the special board meeting, members emerged with their decision and District 7 Trustee, Bonnie Soria Najera, provided the reasoning behind the payments.
"The Board of Trustees finds a public purpose exists in retaining its employees, reducing turnover, increasing morale, helping employees focus on work-related matters while at work and facilitating the return of employees to normal operations during this state of disaster. The Board of Trustees finds that the aforementioned public purposes are fulfilled by awarding prospective one-time payments to employees in furtherance of employee retention and morale during this historically challenging time and as an incentive for continued teamwork and dedication for college district employees as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our institution."
Before the final vote was taken, District 4 Trustee, Christina Sanchez, said she fully supported the incentive payments.
“Specifically for our staff, for our faculty, for our administration, who really had to navigate this unprecedented time and who have certainly stepped up, this one-time incentive pay is really to take into account not only the additional duties and the 24/7 on-call status many had to endure, but also for any additional expenses that had to be incurred. This is something that is well deserved and I am in full support of that.”
According to Josette Shaughnessy, Vice President of Financial and Administrative Operations, the cost of the payment enhancements to the college would be approximately $1.8 million and would be funded by next year’s budget.