As the university struggles with tough economic times, the UC Board of Regents met Wednesday to discuss studying recruitment of top administrators at the same time as lower-paid workers asserted that their current wages put them in poverty.
The board detailed its intention to pursue a systemwide study of chancellor compensation in comparison to potentially more lucrative offers from comparable institutions. But earlier in the meeting, UC employees voiced concerns over their own pay while the board considered the potential increases for chancellors in the future.
“The University of California is one of the most prestigious institutions in the world, yet its employees rely on public funds to make ends meet,” said Senator Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, at the meeting, echoing the concerns of more than a dozen UC employees who spoke.
After UC President Mark Yudof and board Chair Sherry Lansing acknowledged the employees’ concerns, discussion turned to achieving a better understanding of compensation practices for campus chancellors relative to pay for similar positions at comparable institutions.
“We are here to protect the people’s money, so we ought to take a look,” said Regent George Kieffer. “Let’s see what we have to do to compete (with other universities) but to also be frugal.”
Though a similar study of executive salaries was conducted in 2008, Kieffer said that the board is “working with old information.” Several regents stated that the roles and responsibilities of chancellors have changed over time, which is not reflected in the most recent study.
Although Kieffer and systemwide Academic Senate Chair Robert Anderson said that a salary increase was not necessary to retain current chancellors, both expressed concerns that current levels of executive compensation may hinder future recruitment efforts — a timely topic considering recent departures.
UC San Diego Chancellor Marye Anne Fox has announced her intention to step down at the close of the academic year, just months after UC Merced Chancellor Sung-Mo “Steve” Kang stepped down last June.
According to the report’s timeline, it should be finalized in 2012 and discussed in an open session at a future UC Board of Regents meeting.
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oh dear god,
these people are a joke.
Go right ahead and “study” it all you like.
Birgeneau is incompetent by any measure and makes half a million a year.
19% unemplyment in California including those forced to work part time and those no longer working.
UC Berkeley Chancellor Birgeneau provided pay raise to generously paid FACULTY
email opinions to uc board of regents [email protected]
Most faculty are not generously paid. They actually make about 30% less than Stanford just across the bay, and they have to compete in the same housing market which is out of reach for even most faculty.
The problem is not the Chanchellor making $500,000 for overseeing a billion dollar /yr enterprise, it is all the departmental assistant managers that make 150-200k that serve no purpose. They don’t have any real outside experience just internal rubber stamps for “job well done.” They give each other outstanding staff awards, raises, and positive evaluations. It is the Chanchellor that has already started thinning this crowd with his operational initiatives and he should be commended for it.
University of California Berkeley Chancellor Birgeneau has $150 million of inefficiences created during his 8 years reign. $7 million consultants are removing the Chancellor’s $150 million inefficiencies and now the removal of Birgeneau’s inefficiencies renamed “savings”.
Birgeneau’s leadership has cost the students with tuition increases etc.
Honorably retire UC berkeley Chancellor Birgeneau.
Set Cal free of Birgneau’s incompetent leadership, now.
Let’s hire my mother to run the campus. She has no qualifications whatsoever, but her salary won’t need to be much at all. Think of the savings!
Oh wait. I mis-stated. My mom has a college degree, so actually she has seventeen consecutive years of experience in public education at the K12 AND higher ed levels! Wow! Adequate qualifications AND savings! A double benefit!
“its employees rely on public funds to make ends meet,” said Senator Leland Yee”
A word to the wise, don’t rely on Yee. He has a long history of making inflammatory assertions that are eventually refuted.
“but to also be frugal”
Since our chancellors are paid significantly below market rates, we’re already frugal. What do you expect to get by paying less?
Everybody who works at the UC is paid below market rates. Cry me a fucking river.
I don’t understand your comment. Do you have a different way to determine compensation? If so, please explain what a chancellor should be paid, and why?