Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 61.91
Liaison Nathan King
Submission Date Aug. 2, 2011
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.1

Virginia Tech
PAE-11: Sustainable Compensation

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 7.12 / 8.00 Kirk Wehner
Director of Total Compensation
Human Resources
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total number of employees working on campus (including contractors):
7,575

Number of employees (including contractors) that the institution ensures earn sustainable compensation:
6,744

A brief description of how the institution ensures that its lowest-paid workers (including contractors, if applicable) receive sustainable compensation:

Each year Virginia Tech reviews the poverty line statistics from the National Department of Health and Human Services and determines where we are relative to this benchmark. Where budget allows, we set our minimum hourly rate at the rate for a family of three per the data from Health and Human Services. We are undergoing such a study at present and will increase our minimum hourly rate if budget allows.

For individuals paid under the university’s temporary employment service contracts, the university’s contracts specify that the minimum hourly rate for the lowest paying job type is no lower than the minimum hourly rate for the comparable job type within the university. When these contracts are re-negotiated Human Resources adjusts the minimum rate as needed based on any changes in the university compensation plan.


The most recent year total compensation for the institution’s lowest-paid workers (including contractors, if applicable) was evaluated to ensure that it was sustainable:
2,011

The website URL where information about the institution’s compensation policies and practices is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

The total number of employees excluding contractors is 7,575. This number fluctuates with peak employment occurring during the fall and spring semesters. We have excluded contractors who are not on our payroll because we do not have the opportunity to influence what they are paid, with the exception of individuals hired through temporary employment service contracts. Unlike many universities, our dining services is not contracted out so a large number of entry level jobs that might otherwise be contractors at other schools are employees at Virginia Tech.

Approximately 6,744 (90%) of these employees have an hourly wage that is in excess of sustainable compensation. Of the 731 that are below this level, a little more than half are using Virginia Tech as a source of additional income and their job at Virginia Tech is not their primary job.


The total number of employees excluding contractors is 7,575. This number fluctuates with peak employment occurring during the fall and spring semesters. We have excluded contractors who are not on our payroll because we do not have the opportunity to influence what they are paid, with the exception of individuals hired through temporary employment service contracts. Unlike many universities, our dining services is not contracted out so a large number of entry level jobs that might otherwise be contractors at other schools are employees at Virginia Tech.

Approximately 6,744 (90%) of these employees have an hourly wage that is in excess of sustainable compensation. Of the 731 that are below this level, a little more than half are using Virginia Tech as a source of additional income and their job at Virginia Tech is not their primary job.

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.