Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Fire Shelby Thames -> Fire Shelby Thames -> Fire Shelby Thames -> "Merit" Raises
Post Info TOPIC: "Merit" Raises
Outside Observer

Date:
"Merit" Raises
Permalink Closed

I recall some discussion of the midyear raises at USM...the suggestion was made that the criterion for a raise was more blind loyal support of the president, than merit.  It would seem that it would be relatively easy to compare some of the people who got raises to colleagues within the same department.  One's accomplishments for each year are usually well-documented and public since they must be reported to outside accrediting agencies.  I would guess that some faculty might willingly provide copies of their vita or their accomplishments for the year to use in this comparison.  Then, if a number of those who received raises didn't have the publications, service, teaching evaluations, etc. that those who received no raise did, you have some type of objective evidence.

__________________
Fire Shelby


Status: Offline
Posts: 1140
Date:
Permalink Closed

Everyone,


Please do not allow this thread to turn into a witchhunt against individual professors, like the last one did.


Some of the names that were mentioned on the last thread were actually opponents of Thames--one even spoke at the faculty convocation against him.


I'm not going to allow that to happen again.  I hate to say this, but please tread lightly in this thread.


Fire Shelby


Moderator



__________________
bean

Date:
Permalink Closed

There's one thing I don't understand.  Why hasn't Shelby renewed Jeff Bower's contract?  He' done a good job, even brought us to the Liberty Bowl.  Shelby awarded him a hefty raise.  Bower is a loyal supporter of Thames, and has even gone as far as telling his football players not to get involved with this mess (protests & petitions).  So why hasn't Shelby renewed Bower's contract? It doesn't add up to me.

__________________
Topplethetop

Date:
Permalink Closed

And the bigger story on this original thread was the theme of "bad decision, lie, cover up" - I understand that this will be coming to light soon.

__________________
Fire Shelby


Status: Offline
Posts: 1140
Date:
Permalink Closed

Here is a website that demonstrates that some of the people on the list were well deserving of their raises.  Let's be clear--departmental chairs were asked to submit two or three names of people in their department who deserved raises.  The chairs did that.  Only after the chairs did that were some people added to the list.  That does NOT mean that all of the people on the list are Thames cronies.


The link:


http://ocean.otr.usm.edu/~bo/



__________________
Invictus

Date:
Permalink Closed

quote:
Originally posted by: bean
"Bower is a loyal supporter of Thames, and has even gone as far as telling his football players not to get involved with this mess (protests & petitions).  So why hasn't Shelby renewed Bower's contract? It doesn't add up to me."


For starters, Shelby's sons paid for the new field house. Shelby gave the athletic program back the "auxiliary services" (concessions) bucks that Fleming took away. Wouldn't you support somebody whose family helped your program out so much? But on another level, since SFT hasn't renewed Bower's contract, Bower has a very good reason to be visibly in support of SFT.



__________________
Fire Shelby


Status: Offline
Posts: 1140
Date:
Permalink Closed

quote:
Originally posted by: Invictus
" For starters, Shelby's sons paid for the new field house. Shelby gave the athletic program back the "auxiliary services" (concessions) bucks that Fleming took away. Wouldn't you support somebody whose family helped your program out so much? But on another level, since SFT hasn't renewed Bower's contract, Bower has a very good reason to be visibly in support of SFT. "

I don't know if many people know this, but Shelby's sons are facial/dental doctors for USM's athletic programs.


And, just because Bower asked his players to stay away from the protests and petitions, I wouldn't assume that he is an avid supporter of Thames.



__________________
Topplethetop

Date:
Permalink Closed

Some people were added and some people were removed and these decisions were not made at the college level...despite what has been reported...

__________________
Greedy

Date:
Bower
Permalink Closed

As a loyal Eagle Club member, yeah, I am surprised sort of but not totally.

I did think, before this thread, that Bower was given a contract extension. I still think he was.

Am I wrong?

Anyway,,.

Many on this board are not athletic followers but let me tell you that there is a sizeable contingent of Eagle fans who would like to see a new head football coach.

It ebbs and flows, but the anti-Bower movement was reaching a peak last year, until he pulled out that win over TCU. That seemed to have saved him. A repreive.

Don't be too sure Thames is totally satisfied with Bower's performance. Bower has a reputation for not letting his offensive coordinator do his job, such that USM has had 5 or 6 (more?) OFCs in the past 12 or so years.

Bottom line: the job security of Bower is not as solid as Jeff would like, and I am sure Jeff is very grateful to Thames for his support. Actually, in this case I do think Thames did the right thing.

But, I am surprised Bower did not get a contract extension if true.

__________________
Fire Shelby


Status: Offline
Posts: 1140
Date:
RE: RE: "Merit" Raises
Permalink Closed

quote:
Originally posted by: Topplethetop
"Some people were added and some people were removed and these decisions were not made at the college level...despite what has been reported..."
Yes, that may be so--probably is so--but, again, that doesn't change the fact that some of the people who received the raises were well-deserving---and many who received them aren't supporters of Thames.

__________________
Fire Shelby


Status: Offline
Posts: 1140
Date:
RE: Bower
Permalink Closed

quote:
Originally posted by: Greedy
"As a loyal Eagle Club member, yeah, I am surprised sort of but not totally. I did think, before this thread, that Bower was given a contract extension. I still think he was. Am I wrong? Anyway,,. Many on this board are not athletic followers but let me tell you that there is a sizeable contingent of Eagle fans who would like to see a new head football coach. It ebbs and flows, but the anti-Bower movement was reaching a peak last year, until he pulled out that win over TCU. That seemed to have saved him. A repreive. Don't be too sure Thames is totally satisfied with Bower's performance. Bower has a reputation for not letting his offensive coordinator do his job, such that USM has had 5 or 6 (more?) OFCs in the past 12 or so years. Bottom line: the job security of Bower is not as solid as Jeff would like, and I am sure Jeff is very grateful to Thames for his support. Actually, in this case I do think Thames did the right thing. But, I am surprised Bower did not get a contract extension if true."

It's true--I just posted the article in a new thread.

FS



__________________
present professor

Date:
RE: "Merit" Raises
Permalink Closed

Faculty Senate has a committee looking at the merit raises -- only at the procedure and not the individuals. Official Senate stance is that it is assumed that those who got raises deserved them -- but all of the faculty deserve a raise at this point.


The issue was how were the raises determined and by whom?



__________________
Greedy

Date:
Thanks FS
Permalink Closed

OK, you straightened my story out. He will get an extension, but the lawyers are haggling. Wonder why?

But, the large throng of Eagle Fans who would like a new head football coach is still there. At one time the overwhelming majority were ready for change.

Just FYI.



__________________
lipsnotsealed

Date:
RE: RE: "Merit" Raises
Permalink Closed

This is really not (or shouldn't be) a discussion of who was deserving and who is a Dome supporter.  The clear issue is that, once again, the processes were flouted.  The decision to implement mid-year raises without clear and objective criteria was flawed and then senior administration lied and tried to misdirect blame when it blew up.  They seem to have a track record of doing that.


__________________
Invictus

Date:
RE: Bower
Permalink Closed

quote:
Originally posted by: Greedy
"Many on this board are not athletic followers but let me tell you that there is a sizeable contingent of Eagle fans who would like to see a new head football coach. It ebbs and flows, but the anti-Bower movement was reaching a peak last year, until he pulled out that win over TCU. That seemed to have saved him. A repreive. "

Yeah, a lot of Eagle fans think that head coaches are easy to find at any AA meeting.


The truth is that, while Bower did get a 10% raise for winning the CUSA championship, he did not get a contract extension. His current contract expires next year.



__________________
Outside Observer

Date:
RE: RE: RE: RE: "Merit" Raises
Permalink Closed


Does Thames have ANY relatives who are not employed by USM?!?!?!?!


 


quote:




Originally posted by:
" I don't know if many people know this, but Shelby's sons are facial/dental doctors for USM's athletic programs. And, just because Bower asked his players to stay away from the protests and petitions, I wouldn't assume that he is an avid supporter of Thames. "





__________________
elliott

Date:
Permalink Closed

I distinctly remember an article on Eustachy that indicated that Jack Hanbury is now doing the coach contract negotiations for USM's athletics department.  Not surprised that the Bower situation now looks like a mess.


 



__________________
Fire Shelby


Status: Offline
Posts: 1140
Date:
Permalink Closed

quote:
Originally posted by: lipsnotsealed
""

 


I agree that it SHOULDN'T be a discussion of who was deserving and who was not, but the last thread that resembled this thread ended up calling out professors by name, suggesting that everyone go look up their income in the library, and stating that they got the raise only because they were supporters of Thames.


I don't want this thread to degrade like the last one did.



__________________
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Fire Shelby Thames -> Fire Shelby Thames -> Fire Shelby Thames -> "Merit" Raises
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse 		Powered by ActiveBoard