Many full-time and part-time employees at Lake Land College will see a 3% salary increase starting July 1, following a vote by the Board of Trustees to approve base salary adjustments for the upcoming fiscal year.

At its June 9 meeting, the board also approved a new, comprehensive salary grade and range schedule for administrative, supervisory, and support staff. The new structure is the result of a competitive compensation review conducted by the consulting firm Korn Ferry, part of a three-year cycle by the college to ensure its pay scales remain competitive.

John Woodruff, Vice President for Business Services, presented the recommendations, explaining the college’s goals.

“We believe the new ranges allow Lake Land College to remain competitive for local labor talent while considering the budget implications,” Woodruff stated in a memo. He also noted that any current employees whose pay falls below the new minimum levels for their position will be “made whole by adjusting their current rate to the new minimum according to the College’s compensation guidelines.”

The 3% base salary increase applies to full-time administrative, supervisory, and support staff, as well as qualifying part-time employees. The increases do not apply to employees at correctional centers or those in planned retirement.

Woodruff reported that the salary adjustments are designed to account for inflation and keep the college’s compensation packages competitive in the local market. “Forward looking at FY26, we believe the 3% proposed increase… is reasonable against the FY 2026 budget with its potential revenue challenges (State and Federal), and assists in keeping the Lake Land payroll portion of total benefits and compensation competitive with local hiring opportunities,” he said.

The approval of the new salary schedule, recommended by Director of Human Resources Dustha Wahls, formally adopts pay ranges for 11 different grade levels, setting new minimum, midpoint, and maximum salary thresholds. For example, a Grade 9 position will now have a minimum salary of $34,600, while a Grade 17 position will have a minimum of $88,200.

The board approved the new salary schedule and the 3% increases in two separate, unanimous votes. The changes will take effect at the start of fiscal year 2026 on July 1, 2025. The move represents a significant investment in employee compensation as the college works to attract and retain staff amid evolving economic conditions.