Dear colleagues,

The Faculty Compensation Committee presented its report last week to the Provost’s Office, based on FY23/24 compensation rates. These findings are crucial as we work to address internal pay inequities. The report follows a similar study conducted on FY21/22 compensation rates, which led to salary adjustments in FY23. While the new study indicates progress in closing the gender pay gap, disparities persist. Of particular concern is the underrepresentation of Black/African American and Native American faculty, with sample sizes too small for meaningful statistical analysis. Currently, there are only 13 Black/African American faculty members (2% of the faculty) and five Native American faculty members (1%).

The committee will focus on addressing external market inequities in its ongoing work during Fall 2024. These market inequities are expected to be more significant than internal ones, especially when compared to other R1 universities. I want to especially thank co-chairs Dr. Justin MacDonald (Psychology) and Dr. Laura Madson (Psychology) and all the committee members for this important work. The full reports are available on the Office of the Provost website. These studies provide a transparent basis for faculty compensation requests, which I plan to make at the campus level.

Last week, Washington Monthly released its 2024 College Guide and Rankings, highlighting the 20 best colleges in the U.S. for women in STEM. Out of 1,444 schools considered, NMSU’s Chemical Engineering program ranked #16 among the top Chemical Engineering programs for women. Congratulations to the Chemical and Materials Engineering (CHME) faculty and staff! The rankings are based on key factors including the percentage of women graduates, the percentage of women students at the institution, and the median earnings of graduates five years after graduation.

Several of our STEM programs continue to graduate more women than men. During the 2022-23 academic year, approximately 60% of graduates in Mathematics, Biology, and Chemistry were women. In non-STEM programs, women accounted for 67% of the graduates. Overall, across all programs at NMSU, 60% of graduates were women.

As we continue to address compensation inequities and celebrate the success of our STEM programs, it is clear that NMSU is making meaningful strides. However, there is still important work to be done, particularly in improving representation among underrepresented groups and ensuring equitable opportunities for all faculty and students. Together, we will continue to build a stronger, more inclusive NMSU community. We are NMSU.

Lakshmi N. Reddi
Interim Provost
New Mexico State University