06/30/2017

· As it does every year about this time, the UT Board of Trustees recently met. Approving the University’s FY2018 budget was one of the things it did. The budget allows for a salary adjustment pool of 3%. For MTAS, that is slightly more than $100,000. The University’s 2018 salary plan does not provide for across-the-board adjustments and does allow merit and market adjustments. I have submitted the MTAS plan considering these few qualifications and the plan becomes effective tomorrow, July 1, 2017.

The plan is very simple. Every MTAS employee on the payroll today, June 30, 2017 who scored a 15 or higher on the 2016 Performance Review Summary (PRS) will receive a salary adjustment. The adjustment will be based on the employee’s PRS score as a percentage of the total PRS points of all MTAS employees. The value of the adjustment will be that percentage of the salary pool.

As he has done the past few years, Herb will send a letter to each IPS employee advising them of their respective salary adjustment. You should receive it in the next couple weeks.

· MTASers, you are wonderful! The interest, knowledge, experience and passion you bring to work every day are incredible. I know it seems that our customers don’t recognize that sometimes and, therefore, we’re left to wonder, “Did I positively impact that situation?” I suppose if we got most of them to slow down a minute and really think about it, they would say, “We couldn’t get along without MTAS.” You and I hear that every once in a while, but you don’t do what you do just to get the occasional “thanks”. You do it because in needs doing. Continue doing good…and know that there will always be at least one cheerleader on the sideline urging you on and greatly appreciating what you’re doing.

I look forward to staying in touch. My e-mail is
jimlthomas@comcast.net and the cell phone remains unchanged at (615) 972-9219. Thank you for the gift of the last 5+ years and all the best to each of you.

· Lastly, remember a few things…
o What each of you do every day for our customers and each other is recognized and appreciated. Really! It is!
o “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

Jim Thomas, Executive Director


(O) 615. 532.4950 (C) 615.972.9219

jim.thomas@tennessee.edu

www.mtas.tennessee.edu