2025 Merit Pay and Additional Time Off

Dear Colleagues,

I shared news in June about the approval of our general operating budget for Fiscal Year 2025. This year’s budget maintains our focus on affordability, accessibility, and student success. It includes an increase in financial aid over last year’s budget and a modest merit increase for employees.

It is always my desire to provide the highest merit increase possible for all our employees; however, there are many factors the administration must consider when creating our annual budget. This year’s merit increase equated to about two percent for non-bargained for faculty and staff. 

Despite our merit pool being lower than what I, and all of us, would like to see, I would like to express my continued appreciation for your commitment to our students and great work completed over this past academic year by reducing campus operations and allowing faculty and staff to again enjoy paid time off during specific time periods this year. The university will close the entire week of November 25 for the Thanksgiving holiday and December 23 and 24 in advance of the season days. The additional paid time off equates to roughly two percent of salary. As a reminder, student/temporary employees and “bargained for” employees are not eligible for this paid time off. 

The Office of Human Resources will send an email in November with instructions regarding how to code timesheets for eligible staff. Managers should work with their employees to determine office staffing and any department-specific accommodations that may be needed to serve students or perform other critical tasks during these times. If you have any questions, please reach out to the HR consultant that supports your unit.

With sincere appreciation and gratitude, 

Go Dearborn!

Domenico Grasso
Chancellor