Coralie Alder, spokeswoman at the U., said Young's presidential pay ranks even lower when it is compared only against the median pay of leaders at other research institutions with comprehensive health services and a hospital. The Chronicle has reported that presidents of universities with medical schools and teaching hospitals generally earn 35 percent more than leaders of other doctoral institutions.

"If you compare with those institutions, then we would be well below the average for president," she said. "But I've never heard that President Young has ever campaigned for or felt like he needed a higher salary."

Westminster College President Michael Bassis did somewhat better in comparison to his peers: He earned $256,313 in total compensation, above the median for private master's institutions, which was $230,210. Even so, his pay was far below the $1.3 million package given to Donald Ross, president of Lynn University, in Florida. Ross was the highest-paid leader at a private master's university, mostly because of a hefty retirement plan that took effect when he stepped down this summer.

Brigham Young University does not participate in the survey because the Provo school is a private religious institution and claims a reporting exemption when filing federal tax information.

"We do not release our salaries, and I could not even begin to speculate," BYU spokeswoman Carri Jenkins said.

While the state's research universities were the only two of Utah's nine public universities and colleges included in Monday's survey, their below-average pay is mirrored across the state.

The Board of Regents did hike salaries at four universities this summer — Weber State, USU, Snow College and the College of Eastern Utah — to put them up to 90 percent of the average presidential salary at peer institutions. Kendell said within two years, he'd like to see presidential salaries across the state increase again to be on par with national averages.

For U. President Young, that would mean an additional $19,314 and for USU President Albrecht it would mean tacking on another $45,475 to his current salary.

"I would be satisfied getting us to the average," Kendell said. "I think these people are vital assets to the state. They're very committed to what they do, and they deserve every dollar they get."

---

E-mail: estewart@desnews.com