Trustees Would Freeze Salary of CSUN President

The salary of new Cal State Northridge President would be frozen at the level of her predecessor under a policy approved by a CSU Board of Trustees committee Tuesday, but private foundations would be permitted to raise funds on their own to increase the compensation by up to 10 percent.

The full board will consider the proposal, which would impact all 23 CSU presidents, Wednesday.

The proposal was approved unanimously by the board's Special Committee on Presidential Selection and Compensation Policy, outside the meeting by students, teachers and others who said all money - - even private dollars -- should be used to reduce tuition or increase teacher salaries, not paying executives.

During the committee meeting, members insisted that they were freezing presidential salaries, since no additional tax money would be put toward compensation. Donations from private foundations to supplement salaries would be voluntary and decided upon at the campus-level, and there was no guarantee such supplements would be offered, committee members said.

The policy indicates that such salary boosts offered by private foundations could be provided "to retain the best leader."

Opponents, however, said the policy is just another way to bolster executives' salaries.

"As I said last week when the chancellor proposed this new policy, it is nothing more than smoke and mirrors disguised as reform," said Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco. "Today's action ... only further solidifies the fact that they are more committed to their executives than California students and families."

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