Совет доверенных лиц Флоридского атлантического университета утвердил повышение зарплат преподавателей и отложил реформу процедуры обжалования оценок

The Florida Atlantic University’s Board of Trustees’ first meeting of the fall semester touched on several issues directly affecting students and faculty, from teacher compensation and textbook costs to the university’s grade review process. The board approved legislation increasing FAU’s A.D. Henderson and High School teachers’ compensation and approved the textbook affordability report. The board decided to table the proposed changes to the university’s grade grievance process. Salary for FAU’s A.D. Henderson and high school teachers The BOT approved a memorandum, a formal written agreement between two parties outlining what they have agreed to do, adjusting the 2026-27 salary schedule for employees at A.D. Henderson University School and FAU High School. The agreement follows a $1.56 billion allocation approved by the Florida Legislature for salary increases for Pre-K through 12th-grade teachers and instructional personnel. “This is one of those situations where spending more money is a good thing,” Trustee Jon Harrison said. Harrison noted the salary increases remain below inflation and asked whether FAU is at risk of losing faculty or leadership at those rates. Joseph Van de Bogart, the university’s Vice President of Legal Affairs and general counsel, said the increases reflect compensation provided by the state. Eligible FAU Schools employees will receive performance-based salary increases ranging from 2.5% to 3%. Employees with at least 10 years of full-time K-12 teaching experience will also receive an additional $500 added to their base salary. The board voted to approve the memorandum and salary adjustments. Lower textbook costs: The BOT approved FAU’s 2026 Textbook and Instructional Materials Affordability Report, highlighting efforts to reduce what students spend on required course materials. In fall 2025, 52% of FAU’s 5,808 course sections offered materials at no cost. In spring 2026, 43% of 5,636 sections offered no-cost materials. FAU also reported that the average cost of course materials per undergraduate credit hour has dropped from $41 in fall 2019 to $30 in spring 2026. Through the Follett Access Program, more than 73,800 students have collectively saved over $3.3 million since 2019. FAU Libraries also purchased 96 e-textbooks during the 2025-26 academic year, which were used by 963 students at no additional cost. FAU is now considering an opt-out course materials program targeted for spring 2027. The program was originally planned for summer 2026, but is delayed while the university works through billing, system, and implementation details. Grievance procedure for grade reviews: The BOT approved changes to FAU’s student grade review process, clarifying how students can challenge a final course grade and establishing clearer deadlines for appeals. Students can request a review if they believe there was a calculation or recording error, non-academic criteria were used, or an instructor significantly violated their own grading policy. Students must first contact their instructor through their official FAU email, but can go directly to the department chair or director if the instructor is unavailable or refuses to meet. If the department determines the complaint has merit, an approved grade change must generally be made within 10 business days. Students who remain dissatisfied can appeal to the Dean’s Committee and then the provost or designee, whose decision is the university’s final action. Board member Piero Bussani asked what prompted the changes to the grade review process. Daniel Meeroff, dean of Undergraduate Studies, said he had reviewed five grade grievances over the past five years. Dean Duncan, dean of the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, said the college had received five grade grievances among roughly 600 students during the previous summer semester, with one resulting in a grade being overturned. Board member Harrison pushed for the revised policy to be as clear as possible, questioning whether removing the department chair from part of the process could protect faculty morale while still allowing those directly involved to handle grade disputes. Following the discussion, Bussani moved to table the proposal, delaying a vote on the changes to FAU’s grade grievance procedures. The motion to table passed, meaning the board set the proposal aside rather than approving or rejecting it. The proposed changes can be brought back for consideration at a future meeting. Emily Ives is the Managing Editor for the University Press. Email her at [email protected] for more information on this and other stories.