John R. Wasson: Spellings overpaid

Academic administrators – who produce no product, i.e., educated students – have generally been overpaid for a long time.

Some 45 years ago, as a young professor at a university, I was told to get involved with faculty politics and become an assistant dean or higher level administrator if I wanted to make “real money.”

The recent appointment of Margaret Spellings as president of the UNC system emphasized this situation. Spellings got a five-year contract with a base salary of $775,000 plus deferred compensation of $77,500 annually and possible performance bonuses as well as a $35,000 moving fee. She’ll also get a car allowance and 30 days of vacation a year. If the UNC board does not renew her contract after five years, she’ll receive a year’s leave at full salary. Nobel laureates are not treated nearly as well!

I find it offensive when university officials make more than the president of the United States. The president has the biggest budget and the largest number of employees as well as a plethora of responsibilities.

With the cost of college education ever increasing and student debt growing, it’s time for taxpayers to think about administrative salaries. Our youngsters deserve a better deal.

This story was originally published November 3, 2015 at 4:32 PM with the headline "John R. Wasson: Spellings overpaid."