Money can't buy best IU president

Jerry Baker, from the Atlanta-based search firm Baker, Parker and Associates, told the IU board of trustees and the presidential search committee last Friday that IU should offer its new president a total package of between $600,000 to $800,000.\nBollocks.\nBaker said this kind of package is what most universities offer presidents. Not according to The Chronicle of Higher Education.\nThe Chronicle of Higher Education performs an annual survey of university presidential salaries throughout the nation. The newest results, based on the most recent information available (usually from 2000-2003) were totaled this fall, and they show a much different picture of how much money a university president should make.\nThroughout the Big Ten the average package usually includes housing, a car, base salary and benefits. According to The Chronicle's figures, the average base salary (not including the extra goodies) is $364,278. The University of Michigan and Northwestern University come out on top with a base salary of $475,000 and $387,333, respectively. Michigan State University and the University of Minnesota round out the bottom with $216,000 and $295,000 base salary. Myles Brand made $307,660.\nBottom line? IU needs to know how low our new president will go.\nA salary in the proposed range is ridiculous. The Chronicle of Higher Education also wrote up a list of the highest paid presidents. In the Doctoral/Research university category, the University of Pennsylvania is top dog with $808,021 total salary and benefits going to its leader. Yale's president (one of the top in total compensation) makes $612,453 -- does IU really have the brass to compete with the Ivy League pay bracket?\nIU needs a bang up president who will do his or her job better than anyone who has come before. Yes, IU needs to attract the top candidates from around the nation. Yes, IU deserves a president who could make the top dollars.\nBut IU also deserves a president who will want to work here because he or she loves the school, the community and education -- not because IU has the highest payout. After a year of state budget cuts and newly proposed expenditures (like all those new buildings to be built), IU's presidential search committee needs to think about how much we can afford.\nFind us someone who loves IU for what it is, not how much it pays.\n-- Jessica Halverson for the Editorial Board