ETSU approves 5-year contract for President Brian Noland, pay raises for employees

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WCYB) — A new 5-year contract was approved for East Tennessee State University President Brian Noland on Friday.

The ETSU Board of Trustees also approved a pay increase for employees. The university's starting hourly wage for full-time, benefits-eligible employees was increased to at least $13.65, a 19.3 percent increase over the current starting rate of $11.44.

The starting wages for employees of ETSU’s Quillen College of Medicine and Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy will be at least $15/hour. Full-time, benefits-eligible employees will receive a 4.5 percent increase, capped at $7,500 per person. The $7,500 maximum does not apply to employees of the Quillen or Gatton colleges.

The pay raises will be effective retroactively to November 1.

“President Noland is a forward-thinking leader and an ardent advocate for our students and our communities,” Dr. Linda Latimer, chair of the ETSU Board of Trustees, said. “Leading an institution of the size and scope of ETSU, which includes a robust academic health sciences center including a medical school, is an enormous job that requires talent of the highest caliber. Dr. Noland has the rare gift of being both innovative and pragmatic. During his tenure, he has led numerous initiatives that have transformed our institution while ensuring stability and security for our students, faculty and staff. Anyone who meets him — or his wife, Donna — can see that they are both deeply committed to expanding opportunities for students and uplifting our region. I look forward to seeing what we will accomplish with him at the helm for another five years.”

“My family and I are honored to be part of this community and to call East Tennessee home,” Noland said. “I am grateful for and humbled by the opportunity to continue serving ETSU and this region. Together with our students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners, we are building something truly special here.”