University chiefs' pay rises faster than tuition

Tuition is rising sharply and many schools are still fighting through budget cuts. But the salaries of the highest-paid college presidents are also increasing, according to a new survey.

In Utah it's a slightly different story — its predicted tuition will continue rising, possibly in the neighborhood of 10 percent a year for the next five years, but presidential pay here is still below the national median, even with an increase for this year. The last increase prior to 2004 came in 2001 and another raise is in the works for next year.

Tuition at Utah's public colleges and universities, however, has gone up every year since 1997.

"Tuition has gone up a lot more than presidential salaries," said Dave Buhler, Utah System of Higher Education associate commissioner of public affairs. "Many, if not all, of our presidents are taking a hit by working in Utah. If their only interest was compensation, I think they would work elsewhere."

University of Utah President Michael K. Young earns the most among his Utah peers at $295,000 a year — that doesn't include benefits, which after five years with the U. will mean an extra $50,000 annually from an endowed chair.

Young and Utah State University President Kermit Hall received a higher percentage raise — 8.9 percent and 8 percent — this year than the 2 percent all the others were awarded. That was to at least bring Young and Hall closer to peers at similar institutions around the country, according to Buhler.

The USHE tries to remain competitive with presidential salaries, Buhler said, but the reality is, "we're not."

Hall earns $232,200 annually after this year's raise, followed by Utah Valley State College President William Sederburg at $158,100, Weber State University President F. Ann Millner at $153,000 and Southern Utah University President Steven Bennion at $144,840.

Throughout the country, the number of university presidents earning more than half a million dollars jumped again this year — though overall they remain a small minority.

Seventeen presidents of public universities and systems will earn more than $500,000 this year, up from 12 last year and six the year before, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education's compensation survey. Tuition at four-year public colleges rose 10.5 percent this year.

At private colleges and universities, the number of presidents earning more than $500,000 rose from 27 to 42 in fiscal 2003, the last year for which data are available for the private institutions.