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Board of Regents proposes UW chancellor pay increase
Rico Torres
Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: News
The UW System Board of Regents is proposing to increase the pay of UW System chancellors to a minimum of $194,146 and a maximum of $237,290. The proposal has brought both positive and negative feedback from different parts of the state.
The UW-Whitewater chancellor made $180,000 for the 2006-2007, according to the Board of Regents' Web site. UW-Whitewater is currently in the process of hiring a new chancellor.
"As someone who has been involved in the last two [chancellor] searches, I can say without hesitation that our low salaries for chancellors are a competitive disadvantage," said Jimmy Peltier, chair of the Search and Screen Committee. "Although the UW System has a great reputation, it is not with regard to paying our faculty and administration salaries that are in par with the quality education that we provide our students."
Peltier said a fair salary not only impacts the university's ability to attract quality candidates, it will also help retain chancellors in the UW system who are recruited for other higher paid positions.
State Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, said the increase of chancellor pay would not be a good idea.
"The Board of Regents seem to have a difficult time realizing Wisconsin is in debt," Nass said.
Nass said the reasoning behind his opinion is that this year the state is running a $650 million deficit.
"We don't know if we have enough money for employees," Nass said. "If we don't fix the deficit the state will be bouncing checks in the upcoming future."
Nass said he suggests that the current chancellor pay be frozen until the state can get out of debt.
"The board should have as much interest in lowering tuition as they do raising pay," Nass said. "Not one [chancellor] has complained about their salary."
Peltier believes that an increase in pay is a good idea but money is not what attracts people to the university.
"We have an outstanding university, and this is what will draw people to want to lead our university," Peltier said.
The UW-Whitewater chancellor made $180,000 for the 2006-2007, according to the Board of Regents' Web site. UW-Whitewater is currently in the process of hiring a new chancellor.
"As someone who has been involved in the last two [chancellor] searches, I can say without hesitation that our low salaries for chancellors are a competitive disadvantage," said Jimmy Peltier, chair of the Search and Screen Committee. "Although the UW System has a great reputation, it is not with regard to paying our faculty and administration salaries that are in par with the quality education that we provide our students."
Peltier said a fair salary not only impacts the university's ability to attract quality candidates, it will also help retain chancellors in the UW system who are recruited for other higher paid positions.
State Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, said the increase of chancellor pay would not be a good idea.
"The Board of Regents seem to have a difficult time realizing Wisconsin is in debt," Nass said.
Nass said the reasoning behind his opinion is that this year the state is running a $650 million deficit.
"We don't know if we have enough money for employees," Nass said. "If we don't fix the deficit the state will be bouncing checks in the upcoming future."
Nass said he suggests that the current chancellor pay be frozen until the state can get out of debt.
"The board should have as much interest in lowering tuition as they do raising pay," Nass said. "Not one [chancellor] has complained about their salary."
Peltier believes that an increase in pay is a good idea but money is not what attracts people to the university.
"We have an outstanding university, and this is what will draw people to want to lead our university," Peltier said.
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