Seven weeks into the spring semester, Elgin Community College’s faculty contract has yet to be renewed. The Elgin Community College Faculty Administration (ECCFA) has a ratification meeting Saturday to vote on the newest proposed contract. 

The contract is negotiated between ECCFA and college administration. 

The two parties remain separated on salary for ECC faculty members. 

“ECC is falling behind relative to our neighboring community colleges.” said Marc Beth, Professor of Music and Music Instructional Coordinator, during the Board of Trustees meeting held on January 27th. 

Here’s how ECC’s previous contract compares to the latest available data from other community colleges in the local area relative to the population of those schools. 

ECC’s highest full time faculty salary is listed at $135,279, per the Illinois Community College Board’s 2025 salary report via the U.S. Department of Education. The graph below shows other community colleges with comparable full time faculty population’s highest salary. Triton College in particular has a roughly $25,000 higher top end salary while having 41 less members on its full-time staff.   

ECC’s minimum full time faculty salary currently remains on the lower end of community colleges within the surrounding area. Among colleges with similar student populations, ECC is roughly $17,000 lower than Waubonsee Community College. ECC is also marginally higher in salary than Rock Valley College by about $500, despite maintaining roughly double the student population. 

The ratification meeting will determine whether the Board of Trustees and the ECCFA can agree on a new salary contract. If they cannot, ECC faculty members will enter an eighth week into the spring 2026 semester without an agreed salary contract.