Attendance and tuition may not be the only things increasing at ASU over the next few years - Michael Crow's salary may join the jump.
The Arizona Board of Regents - the governing body that sets tuition and fees for the three instate universities - will vote whether to increase the ASU President's salary to a sum of $720,000 at their meeting Thursday at NAU, according to board documents.
Robert Bulla, ABOR president, said the proposed increase to Crow's salary would allow him to complete his 10-year plan for ASU.
"He's done some remarkable things in the last five years," Bulla said of Crow. "But that dream is not completed yet."
Crow has been at the University since 2002. The regents usually issue 3-year contracts, but will surpass that rule if they approve this new contract, which would last from July 1, 2007 to July 1, 2012.
"The thought is that it would be great if the dream could be completed," Bulla said.
The nearly $720,000 publicly-funded contract includes a $475,000 base salary, along with about $145,000 in amenities.
A second contract, funded by the ASU Foundation, includes $50,000 in life insurance coverage plus annual compensation of $25,000 that would increase every year.
Last year, Crow was expected to make $609,194, according to an article in the Chronicle of Higher Education.
Crow's previous contract was not scheduled to come up for renewal until 2008, but the regents will vote to renew the contract one year early because of recent national attention toward the president.
Though Bulla said he doesn't think Crow has plans to leave ASU soon, the regents want to make sure he can complete his vision for ASU.
"He won't be inclined to leave in the next five years after this all goes through," Bulla said. "And I think that is a great thing for the state."
The Arizona Board of Regents are also expected to vote on the following items at its meeting Thursday at NAU:
- The regents will receive the final report and a recommendation from the Task Force on Textbook Costs.
- The board will vote on the implementation of several new programs at the Tempe campus, including PhDs in construction, biological design and environmental social science; West campus, including a PhD in Criminology and Criminal Justice, MS in Criminology and Criminal Justice and BA in Religion and Applied Ethics Studies, and an MS in Engineering.
- The regents will vote on approval of a ground lease agreement for phase II of the Barrett College student housing.
Reach the reporter at: tara.brite@asu.edu.
