Higher pay approved for CSU executives as university struggles to recruit campus presidents
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Amid protests from employee unions, CSU trustees on Wednesday approved the elimination of salary caps for top executives, allowing for higher pay packages as they recruit for president posts at five universities.The new pay structure, approved 16-1, scraps a previous policy that limited the salary of a newly hired president to no more than 10% above their predecessor.It calls for executive salaries to be based on market analyses conducted at least every three years.The policy also introduces bonuses, which will be capped at 15% of base pay.
The bonuses, contingent on whether the executives meet their goals, will be funded through what one finance official described as “campus-based auxiliaries” that include philanthropic sources and private fundraising, rather than state or tuition funds.CSU’s chancellor, vice chancellors and university presidents will also receive enhanced retirement benefits and housing stipends for campus presidents will be increased.
The plan drew vehement opposition from university union members and some students, who protested Tuesday.Kelsey Brown, a communications specialist at Cal State Los Angeles and California State University Employees Union steward, demanded that the board “prioritize classrooms over corner offices” during public comments before the meeting.Lt.Gov.
Eleni Kounalakis was the sole trustee who voted against the change.CSU leadership has insisted that the policy is necessary to attract and retain top leaders at its 22-campus system.“The higher education compensation landscape is evolving, and we must keep pace to attract and retain a skilled, diverse, and engaged workforce,” CSU Chancellor Mildred García said at a committee meeting Wednesday.A pay analysis presented Wednesday by the consulting firm Segal found that about 75% of comparable institutions pay executives more than CSU.The new policy is designed to position s...