MINOT, N.D. -- The North Dakota State Board of Higher Education approved raises Thursday for all state college and university presidents.
"I'm really satisfied with the level of performance from the presidents we have," said Ralph Kingsbury, state board member. "The quality we get for the money we pay them is phenomenal."
North Dakota State University President Joseph Chapman remains the highest-paid president in the university system at $164,900 per year, followed by University of North Dakota President Charles Kupchella at $162,250 per year.
Chapman's salary is up from $157,000 last year, while Kupchella's increased from $154,350.
A 7.10 percent raise for Lake Region State College President Sharon Etemad was the largest among the presidents. Her new salary is $97,195.
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Sharon Hart, president of North Dakota State College of Science, was granted an even larger raise than originally proposed by Chancellor Larry Isaak and board President Chuck Stroup.
Hart will receive a 4.25 percent raise for the 2002-03 year instead of a 4 percent raise as first suggested. That brings her salary to $108,916, compared to last year's $104,520. She also receives $15,850 in housing allowances and $8,900 in vehicle allowances.
Board member Beverly Clayburgh said this will bring her closer in line with her North Dakota presidential peers, who all received at least a 4.25 percent increase.
Ellen Chaffee, president of Valley City State University, will make $122,100 next year, with a $20,000 housing allowance and a vehicle allowance of $11,500, despite the fact that Chaffee no longer will be traveling between Mayville and Valley City.
Her salary also did not drop from what Stroup and Isaak proposed, even though she will only be the president of one university next year. Chaffee said her pay throughout the past decade has not reflected her double role.
Isaak's salary also was set Thursday at $165,000, which is a 5.2 percent raise from last year.
The chancellor's pay takes into consideration chancellor pay in six peer states.
The board approved 13 new academic programs at NDSU, including 10 doctoral of Ph.D. programs in the following areas: Software engineering, History, Genomics, Transportation and Logistics, Musical Arts, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering.
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The move brings NDSU one step closer to its goal of becoming a research extensive university.
"By every measure we're already there, except in the number of doctoral graduates," Chapman said.
Despite a lengthy agenda, the board concluded its meeting Thursday, a day earlier than expected. Board members will convene again July 18 and 19 in Bismarck.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Mary Jo Almquist at (701) 241-5531
