AZ University presidents get massive salary increases, tribes get free tuition

The Arizona Board of Regents appears to go to great lengths to keep the public informed, but don’t be conned by a multitude of “pursuants.”  The key words are, “the board will call the meeting to order and immediately convene in executive session.” That translates to “cloak of darkness.”

According to a lengthy report in the local newspaper, Arizona’s university presidents at ASU, UA and NAU all will get steep pay increases granted by the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR), who unanimously approved the salary increases and contract extensions based on their annual performance reviews. The report states, “Regents raised no questions or comments prior to their vote.” The term of a regent is eight years, twice as long as the governor who appointments them.

Arizona State University President Michael Crow’s base salary (excluding numerous perks and bonuses) is now $809,846, up 5% from $771,282 a year ago. University of Arizona President Robert Robbins will receive $792,241 in base salary, Northern Arizona University President Jose Luis Cruz Rivera will get a base salary of $576,800, up a hefty 12% from when he assumed the position just six months ago. Crow, who was appointed in 2002, is among the nation’s highest paid public university presidents. Arizona’s governor, who runs the entire state, is paid $95,000 — minus all of the perks paid to the university presidents. Governors are limited to two consecutive four-year terms in office.

In addition to their salaries, the university presidents also receive housing and vehicle allowances, numerous benefits, retirement contributions and the opportunity for hefty bonuses each year based on “achieving various goals for their universities.” All of their contracts were extended.

Regents “approved payouts for achieving some of those goals and set new goals for each of the presidents and the university system over the next year and next several years,” ensuring the money stream keeps flowing.

ABOR members previously discussed the contracts in closed-door executive session “because they are employment and salary issues.” The public, whose taxes fund these excessive salaries, and cash strapped students, often working multiple part-time jobs to make ends meet, as their tuition and fees rise yearly, are unable to be privy to the details of those conversations.

The latest absurdity comes in the form of NAU’s announcement that it will begin providing free tuition for members of any of Arizona’s 22 federally recognized tribes. The University of Arizona already has such a program in place as does Arizona State University. Guess whose tuition will be raised to cover this extremist separatism?