Exploring staff and faculty salary inequities between Hispanic-serving institutions and non-Hispanic-serving institutions of higher education

Abstract

Researchers have explored a variety of topics related to the finances of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI), including how HSIs are funded and how HSI graduates fare in the labor market, including salary analyses. Related to staff and faculty, researchers have found that low salaries are a primary reason for faculty and staff to leave. However, no empirical work has explored whether there are salary inequities between staff and faculty working in HSIs and non-HSIs. As a result, this study leverages current Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) data to explore salary differences between faculty (multiple ranks) and staff (multiple classifications) at HSIs and non-HSI peer institutions. Quantitative analyses suggest that HSI staff and faculty salaries are comparable with non-HSI salaries, yet controlling for institutional sector and level does reveal many salary inequities. Moreover, regression analyses reveal breakpoints when HSI salaries decrease as Hispanic student enrollment increases. Implications for research, policy, and practice are addressed, especially as they relate to federal funding mechanisms and private industry partnerships that could help provide HSIs with the financial support they deserve to compensate HSI faculty and staff, especially Latinx-identifying faculty and staff, equitably.

Keywords

Hispanic-serving institutions HSIs faculty and staff equity salaries human resources

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