A recent study by the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources found that college senior administrators' salaries across the country have increased by an average of 1.4 percen during the past year.
According to the Administrative Compensation Survey, a collection of salary and demographic data for select positions in college and university administration, however, the past year's slight economic recovery has benefited primarily private university employees, whereas senior administrators at public universities experienced little to no increase in wages.
"Data show that increases occurred more frequently at private institutions than public institutions," a CUPA-HR press release stated. "For public institutions, the median salary increase was again 0.0%; for private institutions, the median increase was 2.0%."
The University has frozen salaries since December 2007, according to its compensation website.
"All you have to do is look around at the economy," said Susan Carkeek, University vice president and chief human resource officer. "You can see that the public sector is struggling, and oftentimes we're supported by tax dollars."
Although the current financial situation may be frustrating for faculty, the University has remained stable relative to other institutions, Carkeek said.
"If you look around the country at what a lot of other employers and even universities are doing to manage during these economic hardships, a lot of them have had to resort to layoffs or furloughs," Carkeek said. "We've been lucky and have managed proactively and planned so that we haven't had to do any layoffs. But it's a difficult situation for all of us to be in."
Carkeek said the state legislature, which is currently in session, likely will pass additional budget cuts, potentially jeopardizing academics at the University.
"I think we're nervous about losing our best faculty," Carkeek said. "We don't want them to get discouraged or get recruited away. Not being able to recognize and reward them is frustrating. We're just doing the best we can under the tough circumstances."
Despite the salary freezes, the University still employed 36 individuals who made at least $300,000 in 2010, according to the Collegiate Times' database of public university salaries. Additionally, President Teresa A. Sullivan currently earns $485,000, Carkeek said.
Although raw salary numbers are important to consider, rising living and commercial costs also must be taken into account when evaluating pay raises.
The annual Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers in 2010 was 1.6 percent higher than in 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Therefore, the median salary increase of 1.4 percent was slightly less than inflation for all institutions combined. Salary increases for administrators in private institutions exceeded inflation, however.
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