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NU regents OK executive pay raises

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By MARGERY A. GIBBS / The Associated Press

Friday, Sep 05, 2008 - 05:34:39 pm CDT

OMAHA — The University of Nebraska Board of Regents has approved a proposal that would raise university administrators’ salaries.

NU President J.B. Milliken will receive a 19 percent raise, to more than $366,500 this year from $307,227 last year. The chancellors of the system’s four campuses also will receive raises ranging from 7 percent to nearly 20 percent.

The raises are intended to bring NU administrators’ salaries up to par with the system’s peer institutions. Much of the money for the salary increases comes from private donations to the University of Nebraska Foundation, while previously approved merit raises will come from state funds.

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The regents unanimously approved the pay raises on Friday.

Under the approved proposal, University of Nebraska Medical Center Chancellor Harold Maurer would receive the highest raise, from $321,638 to $385,695, a nearly 20 percent increase. Just under $15,000 of that, or 4.6 percent, is a state-funded merit raise.

Other chancellors would receive the following:

— University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Harvey Perlman, $305,825, a near 15 percent increase from last year’s $266,136. Of that, $12,242 — or 4.6 percent — is a state-funded merit raise.

— University of Nebraska at Kearney Chancellor Doug Kristensen, $217,367, an 8.7 percent increase from last year’s $199,933 salary. Of that, $8,797 — or 4.4 percent — is state-funded.

— University of Nebraska at Omaha Chancellor John Christensen, $256,795, a 7 percent increase from last year’s $240,000. Of that, $11,280 — or 4.7 percent — is state-funded.

A university news release said that a survey found that all of NU’s leaders were paid less than those at other institutions comparable in size and scope to the University of Nebraska system. The salary gap ranged from about 5 percent behind for the Omaha chancellor to nearly 31 percent for the UNMC chancellor.

“We do not expect or strive to be at the top of the list of the highest-paying public universities, but we don’t want to be last on the list either,” said Regent Jim McClurg, who led to effort to approve the pay increases. “Our goal is to be reasonably competitive, and we know we will have to be when we go into the market for new leadership.”


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SAD sad sad-------------------------- wrote on September 5, 2008 8:28 pm:
" Why is Perlman worth so much? Maybe He should pay for "the new research park" "

 Yup wrote on September 5, 2008 10:26 pm:
" Wow, I'm speechless and that never happens. That's a hugh raise. "

 Pay them wrote on September 5, 2008 10:33 pm:
" If we want quality leadership, we need to pay them. The fact that we're 20% behind peers is a shame. I want Nebraska to be world class, and that means we need people who are world class. Quality people cost money, no question. We have worthwhile people, we should pay them what they are worth. "

 so what wrote on September 5, 2008 10:38 pm:
" If they feel they aren't getting paid the same as other Universities, their peers, then they should go get a cushy job at one of those Universities. I'll work for $200,000.00. "

 Reality wrote on September 5, 2008 10:53 pm:
" Where is the logic? These salaries are way beyond what is reasonable and prudent for Nebraska. This is in addition to expense accounts, car and housing allowances, etc. Where does the madness end? Never mind, we'll just keep raising tuition on the students and wonder why they all leave the state after graduation for higher paying jobs. I mean c'mon, not all of the graduates can compete for the four positions listed here and live like kings! J.B. and Harvey laugh all the way to the bank! "

 UNL has lost my support wrote on September 6, 2008 6:18 am:
" Anything to do with UNL...zip, gone, nadda, not even football. I struggle as a state worker, economy is rough and they get a raise at almost what I make per year!!! Okay UNL you bought out the fair, you are going to control haymarket park etc. Why do we have city government? Granted the raise as nothing to do with that part but it just gives UNL more power. And yes, they get huge "expense accounts" which is also more inline with my salary. I want steak or chicken some night, am tired of hamburger or nothing. The more I write the more upset I get so am done........ "

 jason wrote on September 6, 2008 7:05 am:
" what is really sick is that these are still state employees!! While the rest of us loser state employees suck up our sad 2% raise for the year and continue to work at the bottom of comparison for the rest of the U.S. private donations go to these guys instead of the rest of the state. The governor makes us do budget cuts and eliminates positions, but allows raises like this to bring big money into nebraska. Eventually there will be no middle class! "

 very sad wrote on September 6, 2008 8:03 am:
" these guys get 10K plus raise every year without asking for it. I had to ask my boss for 10 months straight for a .25 cent raise.

indeed the rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer "

 help wrote on September 6, 2008 8:53 am:
" i am a taxpayer and I cannot afford groceries and gas. Give me a break! "

 Padding wrote on September 6, 2008 8:56 am:
" Perlman gets a nice raise for padding Steve Peterson's pocket before he left who in turn padded Callahan's pocket before he left. They all knew what was coming down. Maybe Perlman should help pay off the debt to those two. "

 Jae wrote on September 6, 2008 10:21 am:
" Absolutely outrageous... please remember the regents at election time and replace them with common sense. It is interesting to watch a lot of college systems held hostage by the people who think it will not operate without them. Wasn't Perlman the one who was responsible for the oversight on the extended Callahan contract? I believe he admitted to it at a press conference and yet he gets a huge raise. Something is wrong here. My next should be a coach or president at the University of Nebraska. "

 Jim wrote on September 6, 2008 11:40 am:
" I am speechless!! I wish I was a state employee. I have not seen a raise over 1.6% in the last 8 years and actually took a pay cut five years ago. Taxes keep going up, public schools keep gouging the tax payer, my kids cannot afford to go to UNL. I am speechless!! "

 Kendra wrote on September 6, 2008 12:03 pm:
" Once again the Regents defied their duty to listen to the public who placed them in their positions. They are elected to represent the citizens and not be puppets of the institution and administrators they govern. The Regents failed democracy. I do remember reading in the LJS, "The right way to bring those salaries into line is to use public funds, rather than resorting to private sources and diminishing public accountability. The regents have a strong case to make to taxpayers on why substantial raises are necessary. That’s precisely what they should do. They were elected to make tough decisions — not devise a path of less resistance."

Did local professionals have an adequate chance to weigh in on how to develop the nursing program in Lincoln? Again, UNL acted without robust public input. "

 Mrs. Johnson wrote on September 6, 2008 3:13 pm:
" It's a cozy little club, the NU Foundation, UNL administrators and the regents. It's too bad someone can't break into the club and shine some light on what goes on with the millions of dollars that they play with. "

 bono vox wrote on September 6, 2008 5:25 pm:
" I'm a state employee and it would be easy to use this justification to have my salary increased by 10-40%, but it ain't going to happen. Moreover, is there a mass exodus is chancellors these days? It seems this should only be an issue if quality people can't be found to take the job. The jobs are filled. This was the same justification to increase professor salaries 20% while tuition skyrockets. I am more and more disappointed with the U of Nebraska (alum speaking) "

 Ignorance is bliss wrote on September 6, 2008 5:53 pm:
" Perhaps you JEALOUS State Employees and others who don't make that much should spend about 1/4 of your life persuing a Ph.D., writing thesis' and books, and work your way up the food-chain of a major university, and then that class-envy would go away? Maybe those who don't think they have it so good (but apparently can still afford a PC and internet connection) would try to look outside their window sometime at the Big Picture. The comment earlier that they are paid too much for because this is "Nebraska" is seriously ignorant. Maybe we wouldn't have that "Nebraska" perception by outsiders if we could attract quality administrators to our universities and businesses. The economy and how it affects YOU has nothing to do with the Univ. trying to keep and attract quality administrators.

If you NU-haters are so small-minded to wish they would go away, just remember that a Lincoln and NE without UNL would be like, well, a desert.

Pathetic. Now continue with your complaining. "

 DennisinOhio wrote on September 6, 2008 6:05 pm:
" 19 to 20% pay increases so we are competitive? I thought it was a joke but it appears the joke is on the taxpayers of the state and rich fools who gave private donations. They had to cancel the Scarlet and Cream and the alumni association was amuck in scandel. For this and other flaws, I think Perlman in particular should offer his raise back to the athletic department in a VERY SMALL gesture for screwing up the football contracts last year. When educational leaders are millionaires at the expense of the taxpayer, you start to understand how our public education system has failed us from top to bottom. Certainly, as an alumni, my donations to the UNL foundation will be tougher to come by in future years! "

 Dave wrote on September 6, 2008 9:34 pm:
" Is everything about MONEY? Money, money, money... What, $300,000 isn't enough to live on, support your family, buy a vacation home, travel the world, support your hobbies, support charities and retire comfortably? You need another 20%? How about giving that money to the other staff members at UNL, many of them with college degrees and tens of thousands in student loan debt, who earn $12 - $16 per hour. What a JOKE! Our society is seriously out of whack.

Mrs. Johnson is absolutely correct-- it's a cozy little club down there at NU. The lack of accountability on the part of our elected officials, at every level of government, is disgusting. "

 Sue wrote on September 6, 2008 10:06 pm:
" If you are college age, take this advice and save money, time and advance your career: no need to go to a university like these and spend countless hours in a classroom. you can get your degree via the Internet and schools like Phoenix University, Kaplan, Bellevue, SUNY, etc. Break free from this old way of thinking about education. "

 Reason wrote on September 6, 2008 11:08 pm:
" Your life is what you make it. Harvey did not just wake up one day and get handed $300,000. He gets paid what the market says he should make. It's sick to hear people complain that they should be getting that money. I believe rich people are getting a raw deal in our society. In fact, I am going to school to, in part, help rich people keep more of their money. Rich people pay your salary, pay MORE than their share of taxes, and should be thanked for THEIR work for OUR society. Trust me, they are getting the tail end of deal. "

 andy wrote on September 6, 2008 11:59 pm:
" oh boo hoo!! what a bunch of whiners! Do you have any idea what it takes to be a university chancellor or president?? Didnt think so. to state employee so sorry your raise was "only" 2 percent. I guess you must have a whole lot of skills in high demand, go find a better job if you can, doubt you can. Yeah, you want the best and brightest, you pay for it. You want mediocre, you slide into oblivion and schools in other places pick up the slack and you nebraskans got nothing. "

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