Calvin College - President's Report 2003

Financial Summary

Retaining Talented Faculty

Among the awards granted by Calvin College, the Presidential Award for Exemplary Teaching is preeminent, which demonstrates the respect the college has for its faculty.

"There is just not another assemblage of teacher-scholars in the world like there is at Calvin," provost Joel Carpenter stated. "There is not another Christian scholarly community like this one."

As teachers, Calvin faculty are dedicated. In an average work week, a Calvin professor spends fully half of his or her time preparing for class or teaching it. One recipient of the exemplary teaching honor could have been speaking for any of his colleagues when he said, "I am convinced that because I am working daily in God's kingdom, with young people who will play important roles in that kingdom when they graduate, I must give it my best effort."

As scholars, Calvin faculty are both prolific and respected. A significantly higher percentage of Calvin professors publish regularly, compared with those at peer institutions. And the work of Calvin's faculty receives prominent honors.

In 2003, communication professor Garth Pauley won the prestigious Karl R. Wallace Memorial Award for his work recovering forgotten civil rights speeches. Also this year, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers named engineering professor Paulo Ribeiro as a fellow—an elite honor from the international organization. And in 2002, the inaugural Steinbeck Short Story Award was bestowed on "Summer's Heat," a story by English professor and Steinbeck scholar John H. Timmerman.

Yet it is something less tangible than numbers and awards that sets Calvin faculty apart.

As mentors, they are inspiring. As one recent graduate expressed it: "They demonstrated that their teaching was a part of their calling—not just a job."

While they may be the most dedicated, the most prolific, and the most inspiring Christian college faculty, the professors at Calvin are paid considerably less than faculty at other religiously affiliated colleges of comparative excellence. It is Calvin's task in the upcoming years to continue to recruit and retain these exemplary teachers.

Full Professor Average Salary

In 2001 the average full professor salary was $59,000 with an average increase over 1995-2001 of 13 percent

In 2001 the average full professor salary was $59,000 with an average increase over 1995-2001 of 13 percent.

Faculty Publication Output

Faculty Publication Output

Articles in scholarly journals 85%
Chapters in edited volumes 53%
Books, monographs, manuals, etc. 53%
One or more works in past two years 76%

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