Most Fort Valley State University employees know what they’d do with a pay raise. For some, new money would be spent paying down bills, stashing it into a savings account or shopping; but President Dr. Larry E. Rivers’ unexpected pay increase from the Board of Regents will benefit Wildcats.“Whatever is left of my raise, minus social security and taxes, will go to the general student scholarship fund until all FVSU employees receive a raise,” Rivers announced during the presidential address at the 2011 Faculty/Staff Institute Aug. 8 in the C.W. Pettigrew Center auditorium.
Rivers explained to a back-from-summer-vacation, standing-room-only audience of FVSU employees why the BOR approved the raise in July. FVSU’s chief executive and Albany State University president, Dr. Edward Freeman, were the two lowest paid leaders in the University System of Georgia.
The audience applauded Rivers’ pledge of cash to the scholarship fund. Since USG revenues are up and the system is operating in the black, a potential pay increase for employees may come as early as the 2012-2013 fiscal year according to Rivers. Employees received the last raise in 2006.
Almost 700 FVSU faculty and staffers arrived early and reconnected with colleagues in the lobby after completing paperwork for new parking decals. During the institute’s morning session, department heads introduced new employees and formally announced promotions. The most notable included Dr. Govind Kannan, recently named dean of the College of Agriculture, Family Sciences and Technology. Willie Williams was appointed FVSU’s interim vice president of student affairs and enrollment management.
During a break, employees feasted on fresh, hot buttered popcorn, served by Health Services and courtesy of FVSU’s Office of Marketing and Communications. The surprise appearance of the Blue Machine Marching Band was a crowd pleaser.
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