At the meeting of CSU Trustees and Executives today and Wednesday, they are reviewing the work of a special Trustees’ committee formed after the Governor criticized their approach to presidential pay.
During 2011, at least three new campus presidents enjoyed substantial compensation bumps in their starting salaries over their predecessors. This year, it is expected that the 23-campus system will hire at least five more campus presidents.
The Trustees’ special committee is introducing a new pay policy for the 23 campus presidents. Using a self-generated list of so called “comparable institutions” that includes colleges with substantial endowments, law schools and medical school, all but one pays their presidents more than the CSU does. Not surprisingly, the conclusion is that CSU presidents are underpaid.
See the proposed Exec Pay policy to be taken up this Tuesday and Wednesday at: www.calstate.edu/bot/agendas/Jan12/SpecCommittee.pdf
State Sen. Ted Lieu has written a scathing examination of the new Exec Pay policy and has indicated he will address the Trustees on their new policy at this meeting. Lieu argues it is a plan to deliver big pay hikes to public university executives while leaving faculty and students behind.
Trustee chair Herb Carter rejected Lieu’s call last week to postpone the policy vote.
Even the National Review – the publication of conservative icon William F. Buckley, Jr. –registered its dissent against the measure.
