ACTA in the NewsPresidential Compensation
Michigan State faces ‘ethical minefield’ as donors pay president’s salary
Donors paying a university president’s salary raise is nothing out of the ordinary, […]
Your article on the vertiginous increase of salaries for university presidents (“Most College Presidents’ Pay Climbing,” U.S. News, Nov. 17) repeats the old refrain of college officials that generous compensation packages are necessary to attract and retain qualified leaders. This argument rests on the false assumption that there is only a very limited pool of experienced and eligible candidates from the academic world whose unique talents are therefore worth any price.
The fact is that there is no dearth of qualified applicants. Experience has shown that leaders in other areas—business, government, the military or the professions—have often made outstanding university presidents. And limiting the focus to insider candidates means boards will rarely meet the kinds of candidates higher education now so desperately needs—those who are willing to make waves to ensure a better product at the lowest possible cost. Trustees at our public institutions should keep this in mind the next time they search for a president or negotiate contracts.
Anne D. Neal
President
American Council of Trustees and Alumni
Washington
ACTA in the NewsPresidential Compensation
Donors paying a university president’s salary raise is nothing out of the ordinary, […]
ACTA in the NewsPresidential Search
Acrimony with board of trustees reportedly played a role in initial decision The president of Michigan State University will no longer leave his job this summer and head to Clemson University. Instead, he will stay at his job and earn $500,000 more per year. Kevin Guskiewicz announced on Monday he will stay at Michigan State. […]
ACTA in the NewsPresidential Search
Michigan State University board members, donors and President Kevin Guskiewicz worked for the past month to ensure he stayed after his planned departure for Clemson University, but a faculty leader and experts say the reversal has created trust issues. While the university hammered out the details — including a nearly $400,000 raise and annual private aircraft flight time — […]
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