Presidents of ASU, NAU and UA get healthy pay raises
Jun 1, 2018, 12:59 PM | Updated: Jun 21, 2018, 2:26 pm
From left: Northern Arizona University President Rita Cheng, Arizona State University President Michael Crow and University of Arizona President Richard Robbins.
PHOENIX – The Arizona Board of Regents approved sizable raises in base pay for the presidents of the state’s three public universities during a special board meeting Thursday night in Tempe.
“In order to retain the talent that these individuals bring to the state and our universities, salaries of our presidents are based on their exemplary performance,” Bill Ridenour, Board of Regents chair, said in a news release.
Arizona State University President Michael Crow, who hasn’t had an increase in base salary since 2015, had his pay bumped up 15 percent from $600,000 to $690,000. He’s been leading ASU since 2002.
University of Arizona President Robert Robbins, who was hired last year, got a 12.5 percent boost from $600,000 to $675,000.
Northern Arizona University President Rita Cheng got the biggest pay increase, in terms of percentage, going from $390,000 to $475,000. That’s a raise of 21.8 percent for Cheng, who had been getting the same base salary since being hired in 2014.
Crow and Cheng’s raises were retroactive to Jan. 1, and Robbins’ goes into effect on July 1. Amendments reflecting the new salaries were made to the presidents’ existing multiyear contracts.
The board also voted to schedule additional raises of 3.5 percent annually for the presidents that will go into effect on Sept. 1 of 2019, 2020 and 2021.
“We are very pleased with the presidents’ accomplishments and are confident they are each making lasting contributions to our state,” Ridenour said.
According to a list compiled by the Chronicle of Higher Education last year, Crow already was the highest-paid public university administrator in the country, making $1,554,058 when including base pay plus bonuses and other compensation.
UofA seeking state permission to purchase president’s home
The University of Arizona was also seeking permission from state regents to purchase the Tucson house where its current president resides.
A subcommittee of the Arizona Board of Regents gave preliminary approval Thursday for the university to buy the nearly 3,800-square-foot Spanish mission-style house near campus.
The University of Arizona Foundation purchased the home for nearly $1.3 million in August 2017 as a residence for Robbins.
The school is planning buy the house from the nonprofit foundation for the same price.
University Chief Financial Officer Gregg Goldman said future presidents will be given the option to live at the residence. The university plans to sell the property if they decide not to move in.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
