USU studies gender pay gap

LOGAN — Utah State University had a jump on the Legislature this time. The university had just completed a study of gender inequality in wages when Gov. Mike Leavitt signed a bill requiring such studies by all state agencies.

Utah ranks 49th in the country in male/female salary equity.

The USU study, which looked at both gender and race, found salary disparities in 11 subgroups of women employees, said President Kermit L. Hall. The university has set aside $216,821 to begin addressing the inequities in the next fiscal year.

The consulting group Haignere Inc. of Albany, N.Y. was hired to do the USU study. Hall commissioned the review shortly after he became president two years ago and it took six months to compile and analyze the data.

The information is important because it provides a baseline against which all university salaries can be measured, Hall said. "By taking measure of differences, the benchmark study will help the university take constructive steps to close the gap."

A U.S. Department of Education study reported that male professors typically are paid thousands of dollars more than their female colleagues. After controlling for rank, age, credentials, field of study and other factors, full-time female faculty members earned an average of $14,273 less than their male counterparts.

The USU study showed women faculty on average earning $12,891 less than males in similar jobs.

USU's study is looking at all employees, not just faculty, said Sue Guenter-Schlesinger, the university's Affirmative Action Office director. "I commend President Hall for taking leadership and making this happen."

Correcting salary inequities quickly is imperative, she said, because even small inequities add up quickly and significantly impact overall career earnings and retirement.

Pay differentials were found among classified, professional and faculty employees. The university plans to address the disparities over a three- to five-year period. Those groups not targeted this year will be addressed for salary adjustments later during this same period, Hall said.

"The current numbers are unacceptable," he said. "I am hopeful that over the next three years we will witness significant progress in the highly competitive task of attracting more female faculty and other faculty from traditionally underrepresented groups."

Providing equitable pay will be a particular challenge now. The university has seen some of the deepest budget cuts in its 115-year history.