The university is raising its minimum salary level to $25,000 for full-time employees, an increase of $4,888 from the current state minimum for public employees.

It will go into affect Nov. 21.

Part-time employees will receive an equivalent, pro-rated pay hike.

"Why are we doing this? Because we are committed to doing all we can to keep your compensation competitive with salaries in Orange County and the surrounding Triangle area," Chancellor Holden Thorp wrote in an e-mail this week to those employees affected.