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A counteroffer is the University’s response to a faculty member who has received or is in the process of negotiating a serious employment offer from a peer institution. In general, the College of Liberal Arts will attempt to respond in a productive manner to official offers made to our faculty from peer institutions. That said, it should be noted that not every outside offer warrants a counteroffer from the college.
Each counteroffer situation presents unique circumstances and issues. These guidelines will fit with most cases, but if it is necessary to work outside these guidelines, the chair should request assistance of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
In cases where offers from non-peer institutions are received, the college’s response will be determined by the individual merits of the institution, the faculty member involved, and the needs and interests of the department and college. Counteroffers in these cases are not automatic and some will not produce a counteroffer. In those cases where a counteroffer is deemed appropriate, a substantial contribution from the department’s faculty merit pool will be required.
The standard request to counter an offer from a peer institution is a 50/50 split between the dean and the provost. If the institution is not a peer institution, it is expected that the request should be a 33/33/33 split with the department, college, and the provost. In both cases, departments should be prepared to contribute to the counteroffer with research funds, reduced teaching, salary, or other resources.
If the dean approves the request to counter an offer, the request will be forwarded to the provost. If the provost approves the recommendation and funding, an official approval will be sent to the Dean’s Office with a copy to the chair.
Upon verbal or email approval, and with any necessary revisions, the formal counteroffer letter should be extended to the faculty member.
Last Modified: 6 August 2009