University of Massachusetts Union 'Thrilled" at UMass 250 Plan

3/1/07. MassLive.com reports: AMHERST - University of Massachusetts Chancellor John V. Lombardi said yesterday he will allocate an additional $2 million for new faculty and associated support at the state's flagship university....

News of the additional funding follows a report by the UMass-Amherst chapter of the Massachusetts Society of Professors released this week that said the number of administrators on campus had increased by 21 percent, while the number of faculty has risen by 5 percent. The report said administrative salaries also increased....
We're thrilled," said Max Page, president of the Massachusetts Society of Professors. "He clearly heard the concerns about the faculty. I applaud him for taking this action."

Page said the $2 million for the 250 Plan is a "clear reaction" to the union's recent efforts to call attention to the need for more faculty. The union, which represents faculty and librarians at the Amherst campus, just released a report as a follow-up to a general faculty meeting that took place with Lombardi in October to discuss faculty hirings.