University presidents’ pay through the roof

The Dallas Morning News is reporting on something that we all should wake up and pay attention to: Texas college presidents’ pay rises with tuition.

As college tuition has risen and financial aid has lagged, paychecks for higher-education leaders in Texas and the rest of the country have continued to grow, according to a new national survey.

I believe in people getting paid for what they do, I won’t argue with that, but…and the article has some comments like:

The leaders of nine public universities and systems in Texas earned more than half a million dollars in 2007-08, the most recent year available, according to the survey by The Chronicle of Higher Education, released this week. And most of them received generous raises from the year before – as much as 30 percent.

Heads of private Texas colleges were well compensated, too, with four receiving more than a half-million dollars in 2006-07, also the most recent year available.

I can’t argue with this:

“Whatever happened to public service? The president of the United States makes less money than the president of the University of Texas,” said Zack Hall, a UT-Austin senior from Frisco who has lobbied for lower student costs.

Bringing in donations, hosting fundraisers, etc., well, heck, isn’t that their job? Does the money they bring in (the amount) have to be in direct correlation to their salaries?

And don’t get me started on coaches pay!! Just shaking my head here, just shaking my head.

The good news is, if you can call it that:

State Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, who heads a special committee on education finance, said he believes the current economy will affect future contract negotiations. “I would predict you would not see as healthy a compensation package,” he said.