Dean Jones says:

"No. I won't pay a salary at the 77th percentile for an 'unproven entity.'  If you were an eminent scholar wanting to move here from a 'Big-Name University' then I could see paying you a salary at the 80th percentile.  But you aren't; you are just starting your career.

Tell you what:  I am willing to adjust my offer a bit. I'll lower the number of days per week that you teach to three.  The hardware budget comes from a different line than either salary or travel.  So I can adjust that upwards by $210.  And I'll fund TWO conference trips for you for the next two years.

Here is the new contract package I'd like to offer you:

**TWO guaranteed trips to conferences each year for two years

**$1,000 for software to analyze data

**$10,210 for hardware (i.e., special computer processor and other equipment)

**A nine-month salary at the 57th percentile

**Required to teach three summer sessions, none of which count toward your teaching load

**Three-day a week teaching schedule."

Your response:

1.  I accept your offer.

2.  How about if we settle for a salary at the 67th percentile?