Watch for your payroll deposit to be a bit heftier this month as the university implements a 3 percent across-the-board pay increase approved by the State Legislature and the Tennessee Board of Regents earlier this year.

The pay increase will affect all regular full- and part-time employees on the university's payroll as of June 30, 2005. It should appear on pay statements beginning with July.

As is customary for higher education employee salaries, the state budget provided funding for only 2 percent of the pay raise. The university must fund the additional 1 percent from revenue generated by tuition increases.

Some other TBR campuses have decided to fund larger pay raises out of university funds, as TTU has done in the past. Our budget this year most likely will not allow any additional increases, according to Linda Maxwell, vice president for Business and Fiscal Affairs. However, on the slight chance that funding becomes available, TTU officials may consider a one-time bonus next year.

Watch the Tech Times for any updates.