Total Compensation & Benefits Project

In this section

Current Status

Human Resources has launched Puget Sound’s Total Compensation & Benefits project. The first phase of the project is focused on finalizing the scope of the project, developing the Project Charter, and securing a consultant with expertise in higher education faculty and staff compensation and benefits, to support the work required to complete the project. The use of a consultant not only provides expertise and augments our internal capacity for project work, it also improves access to market data or research and provides objective analysis.

Purpose & Goals

A commonly understood compensation and benefits philosophy and strategy for both faculty and staff that, when coupled with other measures of employee engagement, position Puget Sound as a desirable career destination for faculty and an employer of choice in our region.
Market-competitive compensation and benefits structures, offerings, and practices that facilitate recruitment of excellent candidates and retention of current faculty and staff members.
Clearly articulated compensation and benefits programs and practices that reflect the values of the institution and are responsive to the needs and interests of our faculty and staff.
Clarity for faculty about salary advancement throughout a Puget Sound career and supplemental pay practices.
Clarity for staff about opportunities for career advancement and compensation within the framework, including supplemental pay practices.
Clarity for faculty and staff about leaves of absence rights, benefits, opportunities, and procedures.
Equitable compensation structures and resulting practices that are based on clear job-related criteria.
Financially and administratively sustainable compensation and benefits practices, procedures, and policies for faculty and staff.

Project Team Members & Oversight

The project will be led by executive co-sponsors Drew Kerkhoff, our Provost, and Kim Kvaal, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. They will oversee an Internal Advisory Committee and faculty and staff working groups. The working groups will be led by Nancy Nieraeth, Chief People Officer, and Amy Spivey, Dean of Faculty. Director of Compensation and Benefits Ian Dowling will provide support to the working groups and act as liaison with the project consultant.

Internal Advisory Committee

Co-Executive Sponsors

Drew Kerkhoff, Provost
Kim Kvaal, Executive VP & CFO

Cabinet Representatives

Joanna Carey Cleveland - VP, General Counsel, Chief of Staff, & Secretary to Board of Trustees
Lorna Hernandez Jarvis - VP, Institutional Equity & Diversity

Faculty Members

Peter Hodum - Professor, Biology and Director, Environmental Policy & Decision Making
Karin Steere - Clinical Associate Professor, Physical Therapy
Nila Wiese - Professor, Business & Leadership and Director, Latin American Studies

Staff Members

Robin Aijian - Director, Undergraduate Admission, Office of Admission
Nichole Lindquist-Kleissler - Director, Annual Giving, University Relations
Greg Lynch - Assistant Director, Security Services

Faculty Working Group

Amy Spivey - Dean of Faculty Affairs (group leader)
David Chiu - Professor, Mathematics & Computer Science
Garrett Milam - Professor & Chair, Economics
Lea Fortmann - Associate Professor, Economics
Rachel Pepper - Professor, Physics and William D. and Flora McCormick Chair in Biophysics (also Faculty Salary Committee member)
Benjamin Tromley - Professor, History
Ian Dowling - Director, Compensation & Benefits, Human Resources (staff support)

Staff Working Group

Nancy Nieraeth - Chief People Officer, Human Resources (group leader)
Ian Dowling - Director, Compensation & Benefits, Human Resources (staff support)
Najhan Bell - Student Success Advisor, Academic Advising
Patricia English - Manager of Administration, Facilities Services
Carol Odland - Senior Developer, Technology Services (also Staff Senate Compensation Committee member)
Elizabeth Wormsbecker - Associate Director Student Employment Programs, Career and Employment Services

How to get Involved

While project team members were selected to represent a broad range of faculty and staff employment categories, experiences, and perspectives, the project success depends on broader campus community involvement:

Sign up for a one-on-one session with an HR representative to discuss the project and any other feedback about Puget Sound’s compensation and benefits you may have. These sessions will be offered on October 18, November 14, and December 7. Reminders for these opportunities will be sent via Faculty and Staff Communication emails.
Faculty may attend Faculty Senate meetings and hear from Provost Drew Kerkhoff about current and upcoming activities related to this work.
Staff may attend Staff Senate meetings and hear from our HR leaders about current and upcoming activities related to this work. Executive Sponsors may also be scheduled for specific Senate meetings to give project updates–watch the Staff Communications for more information.
Talk to your faculty and staff peers who are participating as a project committee member.