Resignations among ISU faculty in 2002 jumped 5.5 percent from the previous year, according to the Board of Regents.

Jack Girton, president-elect of the Faculty Senate, said the number of faculty leaving the university — 55 in 2001 and 58 in 2002 — is a problem that won’t be solved by simply increasing salary packages.

Working conditions, laboratory equipment, the way administration treats faculty and salary are all issues faculty members consider when deciding whether to stay at Iowa State, Girton said.

The lower number of faculty has had an effect on teaching, he said. “There is absolutely no question that the quality of education is decreasing,” Girton said.

Girton said since 1985, Iowa State has lost 400 faculty members and this has been lowering the quality of education for nearly 20 years. Problems facing students and faculty are larger class sizes, fewer classes and a higher student-faculty ratio, he said.

“What worries me is that it’s getting worse,” Girton said.

According to the board’s report, the overall number of faculty resignations at the three Regents universities increased from 158 to 164, a 3.8 percent increase. The University of Iowa had the largest increase, at nine percent.

The University of Northern Iowa experienced a resignation decrease of 8.3 percent.

These numbers are disturbing, said Jeffrey Cox, Faculty Senate president at the University of Iowa. He said he feels the main way to solve the problem is to get political leadership at the state level.

“We need commitment by the legislature and the governor to turn it around,” Cox said.

Although money isn’t the only issue faculty look at when choosing an institution, it is definitely something they take into consideration, Girton said.

Girton said faculty members need money and may be attracted to another university that can offer them more compensation.

He said the budget restrictions placed on the university by the Iowa Legislature are definitely an issue. Faculty members are aware they have an attractive position and Iowa State might not be able to support them, he said.

“It’s hard to turn down [a better offer] or for Iowa State to counteroffer,” Girton said.

Girton said ISU President Gregory Geoffroy is working on better salary packages and getting new funds through the state Legislature and the tuition increase to hire new faculty.

Susan Carlson, associate provost, said the provost’s office is working on ways to keep faculty at Iowa State.

A new faculty orientation program was developed to help new faculty become familiar with the university.

“We created a series of programs to help new faculty get a sense of how the institution can support them and help them in their teaching and research,” Carlson said.

Girton said the future is out of the university’s hands.

He said it is extremely difficult to increase faculty numbers in a meaningful way. It could take years but that depends on what the state government decides to do, Girton said.

“If the state doesn’t give the resources needed to be competitive, it will get worse,” he said.