CSU presidents get pay raise

Pay raises and increased benefits for Cal State University presidents and executives are crucial to attracting and keeping high quality leadership, trustees said at a CSUs Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday.

CSU is not able to compete with other universities in recruiting and retaining the highest quality leaders, CSU officials said.

"We have had difficulty recruiting and retaining presidents and visionary leaders due to our [lower] compensation levels," said June M. Cooper, special consultant to the chancellor.

The average salary for CSU presidents is $141,305 while average salaries of comparative university presidents are $184,415 according to a report reviewed by the trustees.

Pay increases for 23 CSU presidents, four executive officers and Chancellor Barry Munitz took effect last July.

Assistance with housing, business use of an automobile and administrative leave are added incentives offered to CSU presidents, the chancellor and executive vice chancellor, according to CSU officials.

Perks offered to presidents at comparable institutions include an available driver, an entertainment fund and estate planning, according to the report.

"We want to attract the best," said Ralph Pesqueira, CSU trustee. "There must be comparable pay for services rendered."

Current campus presidents may be compelled to consider competitive offers from other institutions and highly qualified candidates are reluctant to apply for CSU positions because they are making more money at their institutions, according to CSU officials.

"Administrators work hard and should be fairly compensated," said Lt. Gov. Gray Davis after the close of the meeting on Wednesday. "But we have to keep an eye on the ball, which means attracting and retaining superb faculty and my preference is to ensure their compensation at a competitive level before we move to administrators."

"The goal is to close the gap in salary for both faculty and executives", said Munitz after the close of the meeting on Wednesday.

"It is just that right now the gap for executives is three times as large," Munitz said. CSU presidents and executives salaries are over 30% less than an equivalent public or private university, according to the report.

California Faculty Association President Terry Jones was critical of the executive pay increases.

"We cannot continue to glorify this institution on the backs of the faculty," Jones said. "Rewarding presidents before you take care of the base of the organization is irresponsible and obscene."

A committee was formed to examine the issue of executive compensation and results will be in by July.

Stabilization of student fees was discussed at a committee meeting Wednesday.

Student fees will not increase for the 1997/98 year, said Senior Vice Chancellor Richard West in a committee meeting Wednesday.

"There has been an overall increase in funds and strong support of education in the governorŐs budget, a 4.1 percent increase in the general fund met CSU 1997/98 budget requirements," West said.

After the close of the meeting, Davis said he will reintroduce a proposal to freeze student fees for two years.

"No fees would be increased until the year 2000," said Davis of the proposal. "Beyond that, we could raise fees but not to exceed growth and personal income."

Over $1.9 billion in general fund support has been given to the CSU system for 1997/98.