Gerth’s salary tops $212,000

CSU presidents are getting another raise, trustees decided Tuesday after a presentation by Chancellor Charles Reed.

The move to hike executive salaries by an average of 15 percent is the last part of a three-year plan to close the gap in compensation compared to other university presidents. The California Postsecondary Education Commission recently reported that the gap is about 15 percent, Reed said.

CSU presidents are paid an average salary of $174,412, compared to $200,684 paid those in similar positions, CPEC’s August 1999 Higher Education Update on Executive Compensation reported.

CSUS President Donald Gerth now earns $212,568 a year, up from $187,536 -- a 13.4 percent increase.

The increase is needed to ensure there won’t be a problem attracting and retaining strong leaders as CSU presidents, Reed’s report said.

Faculty Trustee Harold Goldwhite agreed with the increases.

"I’m fully supportive of the efforts of CSU and our board to improve the salaries of our presidents," he said.

Reed said the increases are intended to be proportionate with faculty raises of 11.7 percent over two years.