STC Board Trustees approve one-time college-wide payments for all employees

South Texas College Board of Trustees has approved a college-wide one-time stipend for full-time and part-time employees to be distributed in the coming weeks.

At their regular meeting on May 25, the STC Board approved a one-time payment of $1250 for full-time and $1150 for part-time employees totaling more than $2.8 million in salaries and benefits for the college’s 2,167 employees. The payments were developed so that the average employee would net approximately $1000, after tax withholdings.

The stipend is “in appreciation and acknowledgement of the extraordinary contribution made by faculty and staff in fulfilling the mission of the College under the most challenging circumstances resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic," according to college trustees.

“'It was important for the board to acknowledge the commitment to our students and institution of our administration, staff and faculty during this challenging time,” said STC Board Chair Rose Benavidez. “We are fortunate to have an exceptional group of individuals representing our South Texas College family and are happy to recognize their efforts with this upcoming one-time supplemental payment."

Regular and temporary full-time and part-time employees active as of May 3, 2021, and who received a paycheck in calendar year 2020, are eligible for the stipend.

Faculty and staff developed and delivered new instruction methods, student services, and operations in response to COVID for students as well as safety protocols and pandemic-related policies for both students and staff of the college. Many faculty and staff also incurred work-related expenses during that time.

The budget for FY 2021 did not include salary increases for faculty and staff, due to the anticipated reduction in revenues including state appropriation, tuition and fees, and property taxes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the pandemic did impact each of these revenue streams, the trustees were glad to report that the College fared better than its conservative forecasts.

Trustees said actual revenues were sufficient to cover the costs associated with the one-time payment. The proposal was vetted through STC’s Finance, Audit, and Human Resources Committee, during which the trustees advocated for these payments to all faculty and staff, whether full-time or part-time, who carried out South Texas College’s mission and service to its students during the unprecedented challenges and risks of the pandemic.

Funds will be sent to employees "as soon as possible", likely during June 2021, according to college trustees.