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Retiree compensation ranks Proenza No. 3 among college leaders
By Carol Biliczky
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Monday, Nov 17, 2008
For the second year in a row, University of Akron President Luis Proenza ranked near the top among his peers nationwide in retirement pay.
He placed third with $94,405 in retirement pay in 2007-08, down from the No. 2 spot the previous year, according to the annual survey on executive compensation released today by the industry newspaper the Chronicle of Higher Education.
When base pay, bonuses and retirement pay are added together, the UA president made $528,085, according to the university.
That put Proenza among the top third in overall compensation: 59 presidents in public research institutions nationwide received $500,000 or more, according to the Chronicle.
The survey looked at base pay, deferred compensation, retirement contributions, bonuses and more for 184 public research universities in 2007-08 and 590 private institutions in 2006-07 across the country.
While leaders of private institutions tended to make more
than their public counterparts, compensation for public university presidents surged 7.6 percent in 2007-08 and almost 36 percent over the past five years.
Specialists in executive compensation say presidents must manage diverse activities ranging from housing to research, while continually raising money.
UA trustee Chairman Phil Kaufmann said Proenza is well worth his compensation package, which grew 21 percent from 2006-07.
''It's pretty apparent to me what terrific advances the university has made under him. I think he's done a terrific job,'' Kaufmann said. ''Nobody in the world is perfect, but overall he's done an outstanding job.''
The university also provides Proenza with a house in West Akron, car and country club memberships, none of which were included in his compensation.
Proenza wasn't the highest-paid Ohio public university president listed in the survey. In fact, his compensation paled when compared to that of Gordon Gee of Ohio State, whose $1,346,225 made him the top paid public university president in the nation. His compensation included a bonus of $310,000 announced last month.
Kent State's Lester Lefton came in fourth statewide, at $519,171, after Gee, Nancy Zimpher of the University of Cincinnati, whose total package was $687,224, and Proenza.
Lefton's compensation included a $50,000 housing allowance because the university does not provide him with a residence, a $70,000 performance bonus and $31,561 in retirement benefits. His compensation increased 8 percent from 2006-07 to 2007-08.
Jeffrey J. Selingo, editor of the Chronicle of Higher Education, said the nationwide surge in salaries could cause a backlash.
''Students, parents, trustees, and lawmakers are likely to take a closer look at whether presidents are worth the cost, given how worried families are about affording tuition as everyone is feeling a bit poorer,'' he said.
The Chronicle reported that some presidents have taken note of that.
Presidents at the University of Louisville, the University of Connecticut and Rutgers University were among those who gave back or rejected bonuses or raises because their institutions face cuts in state funding, tuition freezes and rising costs.
No presidents of universities in Ohio were on that list.
Carol Biliczky can be reached at 330-996-3729 or cbiliczky@thebeaconjournal.com.
For the second year in a row, University of Akron President Luis Proenza ranked near the top among his peers nationwide in retirement pay.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Akron, Oh
Posted 10:01 AM, 11/17/2008
He's well worth every penny! This man is saving our community. I hope when it's time for him to retire from UA, he gives serious consideration to running for mayor.
Posted 10:19 AM, 11/17/2008
He's GROSSLY over-paid. Look at the institution over which he presides: The University of Akron sits mired among the LEAST selective, lowest-ranked colleges and universities in the country.
Unless and until the University DRAMATICALLY beefs up the quality of its curricula, faculty and research, it will persist in being nothing more than a glorified high school, and Proenza is directly responsible.
Akron, OH
Posted 10:38 AM, 11/17/2008
Melissa - do your homework.
UA accomplishments:
Law school: Students from UA's School of Law who took the July test passed at a rate of 87.4 percent, the highest among the nine law schools in the state. Plus, UA students who took the test for the first time in July passed at a 92 percent rate, second highest in the state. Both National Jurist magazine and Prelaw magazine gave UA's law program an “excellent value” rating of 2.7 on a 3.0-point scale — recognizing it as one of the two top public school programs in the United States.
U.S. News & World Report. And according to this year's issue, The University of Akron has some very legitimate points of pride.
("America's Best Graduate Schools," U.S. News & World Report, 2000 Edition)
The University of Akron is the only university in Ohio, public or private, to have a science and engineering program ranked in the top five nationally. The University of Akron's Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering program is ranked 2nd nationally, and ahead of such highly respected universities as MIT and CalTech.
UA's Industrial and Organization Psychology program is ranked 7th in the nation.
Besides the U.S. News & World Report rankings, there is a just-released approach on Measuring University Performance as compiled by The Lombardi Program at the University of Florida. (July 2000).
In that report, The University of Akron is ranked among the top 100 public universities in five out of the ten dimensions used for the study, including National Academy Members, Doctorates Awarded, Postdoctoral Appointees, Endowment Assets, and National Merit and Achievement Scholars.
So sit down and shut up, Melissa. Your ignorance is showing.
Posted 11:52 AM, 11/17/2008
When I first moved to Akron in 1985, I thought the University was absolutely dismal. I just drove around it this past Sunday, and now it just gleams with new buildings, more green space, and beautiful landscaping.
In business, you reward your achievers with higher compensation. In my opinion, UA has got to be the most improved Ohio campus. The football stadium will be the crowning jewel to the campus and will help unify the school even more with pride and team spirit. Bravo to UA and the president deserves what he makes -- the proof is in the campus.
Akron, OH
Posted 12:16 PM, 11/17/2008
Agreed...the campus looks great and the university is improving everyday!
Akron, Oh
Posted 12:40 PM, 11/17/2008
The University of Akron
Akron’s and Summit County’s Greatest Sustainer
Thanks, University of Akron for:
InfoCision Stadium and Summa Field
University Park Alliance
restoring, preserving and saving Hower House and Quaker Square
Edwin J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall
partnering with Akron’s Medical Community for Centers of Excellence
being Summit County’s largest public employer – 4,643 employees
being a part of The National Inventors Hall of Fame School
helping to preserve and save The Akron Civic Theater
being the encouraging force behind private downtown development
saving The Polsky Building and Central Hower High School
being The Public Research University for Northern Ohio
having a Polymer Science & Engineering Program ranked 2nd in The US
the only Ohio accredited PhD & Masters Family Therapy program
the 6th nationally ranked Industrial/Organizational Psychology program
The Clinic for Child Study and Family Therapy
The Lesbian, Gay Bisexual and Transgender Union
free HIV testing in cooperation with Akron’s Community AIDS Network
The Akron Law Student Organization of the ACLU
The Landscape for Learning
having the “Best Value” public law school in the US – “The National Jurist”
saving the city of Akron
Keep growing University of Akron.
You have the community’s blessing!
akron, oh
Posted 12:55 PM, 11/17/2008
As always - the naysayers like Melissa can't recognize quality investment when it occurs right in front of them. Instead, they want to begrudge UA President his income most likely because she has neither the talent or foresight to accomplish much with her life.
She should join the always negative Highland Square neighborhood Association where her negativity will fit right in.
Akron, OH
Posted 01:01 PM, 11/17/2008
Not being so "selective" is good for UA and the entire community--it allows for more students to attend, which means more money coming in in tuition and general fees that pay for more faculty/staff jobs, and for all the new projects.
Because of its size and varied degree programs and reputation, UA can and does attract excellent faculty and researchers. I don't want my alma mater to be "small and selective".
Posted 01:27 PM, 11/17/2008
The apologists for this grossly overpaid bureaucrat seem to have nothing to do today but sing his praises. Well, I have not come to praise this or any other overpaid and underworked university president. In fact, the Ohio higher education would be better off if the office of president, an aristocratic anachronism, were eliminated altogether.
Akron, OH
Posted 01:56 PM, 11/17/2008
Oh good Lord, Adonis, you can't really mean that! Do you remember what UA was like beore Proenza? I do! And what he has done for UA is miraculous. Anyone who would want to go back to where we were before is off their meds.
I am an alum who went to UA ages ago, before Proenza came to town. He came in and said he had a grand vision for the campus. Everyone thought he was nuts, but he has pulled it off. I toured the campus recently and just can't get over the improvements. World class. Kudos to Proenza for giving this town something to be proud of.
Overpaid and underworked? I would like to see you try to fill his shoes.
Posted 03:40 PM, 11/17/2008
You got that right. The UA campus looks good but try and find a parking space or walk at the edge of campus and not get mugged. Tuition is outrageous! Proenza knows how to pull the right political strings. Too bad he is blind to the students.
Yo Mama, PA
Posted 03:49 PM, 11/17/2008
His pay is appauling considering how much tuition has risen in the past 10 years since he's been there. Has the degrees from the U of Akron became better? NO.
Akron, Oh
Posted 04:29 PM, 11/17/2008
Where do these nuts come off saying that tuition at UA is too high? UA has the lowest tuition of the four top public iniversities in Ohio.
Cincinnati $9399
OSU $8676
KSU $8430
UA $8383
The problem with these uninformed naysayers is that they think it's fashionable to hate everything. They probably view themselves as being groovy, anti-culture hippies working at The Mustard Seed. Unfortunately, Akron has more than enough of these lack luster under achievers.
They are not paying Proenza enough.
Akron, OH
Posted 04:43 PM, 11/17/2008
Amen, Jan. Not only that, but tuition at UA has been frozen for the last two years. That means tuition hasn't been raised in two years, for all you intellectually-challenged people out there.
Akron, Oh
Posted 06:54 PM, 11/17/2008
Perhaps Warner Mendenhall, Patty Longville and Lisa Bostwick will actually try and recall Luis Proenza. Bwaaaaaaaa!!!!!!
All three are caught up in their David vs. Goliath and anti-culture fantasies and finaticism.
Kooks all three of them along with Alex, Adonis, Bob and Melissa
Akron, OH
Posted 07:51 PM, 11/17/2008
Here is the truth, according to U.S. News: The University of Akron is NOT a highly-regarded institution and has in fact been ranked in its forth tier.
Meanwhile, The Ohio State University is considered the best public instituion in Ohio.
The following accounts for the VAST chasm in rankings between UA and OSU:
Percent of applicants accepted
Ohio State: 52%
Akron: 81%
Percent of freshmen in top 10% of high school
class
Ohio State: 57%
Akron: 12%
Percent of freshmen in top quarter of high school
class
Ohio State: 91%
Akron: 30%
Percent of freshmen in BOTTOM half of frehsmen
class
Ohio State: 1%
Akron: 43%
Middle 50% of ACT scores
Ohio State: 26-30
Akron: 18-23
Percent of freshmen scoring a 30 on the ACT
Composite
Ohio State: 27%
Akron: 2%
Akron, OH
Posted 07:52 PM, 11/17/2008
institution
Akron, OH
Posted 08:04 PM, 11/17/2008
The top-ranked public university in Ohio vs. The University of Akron.
The truth about the law school at Akron: it's ranked in the third tier by U.S. News and had serious problems during its last accreditation. That's nothing to brag about
Ohio State: One of the 60 members of the
Association of American Universities (since 1916)
Akron: never invited to join.
Ohio State: 23 members of the National Academy of
SCiences and Engineering on faculty
Akron: NONE
Ohio State: 32 faculty members awarded Guggenheim
Fellowships of the last quarter century
Akron: No faculty members awarded Guggenheim
Fellowships over the last quarter century (Miami
and OU combine for only 5)
Ohio State: Colleges of Law, Medicine,
Engineering and Business all ranked in the top 35
nationally (higher than Case for all but
medicine)
Akron: No professional colleges (that would include the law school) ranked in top
100!
Ohio State: Arts and Sciences departments of
history, political science, physics, chemistry,
mathematics, philosophy, sociology, psychology,
english, earth sciences, and biological sciences
all ranked in the top 40 nationally and as high
as 13th (political science). In all but one case,
they ranked higher than Case (Case ties in one of
the science disciplines.
Ohio State: 2 billion dollar endowment
Akron: 168 million dollar endowment
Akron, OH
Posted 08:05 PM, 11/17/2008
Akronites, please stop drinking the Proenza Kool-Aid! He is nothing more than a confidence man.
Akron, OH
Posted 08:49 PM, 11/17/2008
The apples-to-oranges comparison of OSU and U.Akron above leave out Quality of Instruction, which is what matters most to students.
At OSU and Big Ten schools like it, undergraduates are far more likely to have a foreign-speaking T.A. for all sciences and math and engineering courses, and they cannot be understood.
Add to that, their having been schooled like machines in Asia or wherever, having no clue how to relate to or actually HELP the typical American student, and hundreds of students in a lecture hall.
Your chances of having a professor who actually knows how to teach AND speaks English clearly are far greater at University of Akron--with smaller class sizes. And THAT is important!!
Posted 07:15 PM, 11/18/2008
So, the head of the school I work for got a 21% raise, while three of us in my department had to share one book to teach four class sections back in the spring. Oh, and my pay scale is way below the poverty level, and I'm helping teach Ohio's future teachers. Hmmmm, does that makes sense to anyone?
Did anyone else in Akron earn not only a 21% raise but also deserve a car, house and country club membership last year? Didn't think so......By the way, Proenza didn't freeze tuition out of the goodness of his heart, Gov. Strickland made him, along with every other public university. Oh, and that only applies to undergrad tuition, not including room and board. So, surprise, U of A raised prices, and Proenza got an outrageous raise.....
This is ridiculous, I'm glad this article brings some of this nonsense to light!
