Arizona board approves salary raises for state university presidents

PHOENIX — Nearly seven months after Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey approved a state budget that cut $100 million from state university funding, the Arizona Board of Regents granted more than $300,000 in salary raises to the presidents of those universities on Friday.

The State Press reported Arizona State University President Michael Crow will receive a $150,000 raise for the 2015 fiscal year, bringing his annual salary to nearly $800,000.

Regents said they granted Crow the raise based on goals the organization established in 2012.

In addition to Crow’s salary increase, University of Arizona President Ann Weaver Hart and NAU President Rita Cheng were also granted performance-based raises. Hart’s salary will increase by $115,000 while Cheng’s will increase by $40,000, according to The State Press.

On the same day, University of Arizona officials announced it will be cutting 320 jobs to adjust to the lack of state funding. The reduction in jobs will save UA about $21 million in salaries, wages and benefits.

During Friday’s meeting, regents also said the Legislature should significantly increase university funding by providing appropriations for half of the cost of educating Arizona residents.

The regents said the change could be made “over time” and would help honor the constitutional requirement for tuition as nearly free as possible.

A first step in that change accounts for $33.4 million of a $146 million request by the regents for increased funding for the fiscal year starting next July.

The regents also want a $24 million in the funding boost in the current fiscal year. They cited a $400 million bump in state revenues above budget assumptions.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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