University Times

Pitt's Board of Trustees compensation committee Dec. 6 raised Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg's salary by 5.4 percent to $342,500 for fiscal year 2002.

Trustees also approved, at Nordenberg's recommendation, raises for seven other Pitt administrative officers. The new salaries are retroactive to July 1, the beginning of Pitt's fiscal year.

"The University of Pittsburgh continues to gain momentum as it moves through a period of extraordinary accomplishment," board chair William S. Dietrich II said in announcing the compensation committee's determination. "During the past year, for example, both undergraduate applications and student body quality reached all-time highs. We attracted research support at record-setting levels. Our capital campaign moved forward well ahead of schedule and set a new regional record for private fund-raising."

Dietrich also cited the University's role in regional initiatives, including the Pittsburgh Digital Greenhouse and the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse, and capital construction projects on the Pittsburgh and regional campuses.

"The Board of Trustees is impressed by the University's progress under Chancellor Nordenberg's leadership and is fully committed to supporting the continuing work of the chancellor and his leadership team. That includes making certain that they are appropriately compensated for their efforts and accomplishments," Dietrich added.

The compensation committee met via a speakerphone hook-up in the Office of the Secretary, 159 Cathedral of Learning. During the conference call, committee member Bill Lieberman praised Nordenberg's performance.

"Chancellor, thanks for all you do for us," Lieberman said. "Thanks for a year that, believe it or not, was better than the year before. We thank you for your leadership and grace through these times. You've been outstanding."

The compensation committee also approved fiscal year 2002 salaries for the following University officers: Carol A. Carter, vice chancellor for Institutional Advancement, $187,250 (a 4.6 percent increase); Jerome Cochran, executive vice chancellor, $248,250 (a 4.5 percent increase); Robert E. Dunkelman, secretary to the University Board of Trustees, $145,500 (a 4.7 percent increase); Arthur S. Levine, senior vice chancellor for Health Sciences, $560,000 (a 4.3 percent increase); James V. Maher, senior vice chancellor and provost, $265,000 (a 4.5 percent increase); Amy K. Marsh, treasurer, $157,500 (a 5 percent increase), and Arthur G. Ramicone, vice chancellor for budget and controller, $180,500 (a 4.9 percent increase).

"This has been another year of outstanding progress on virtually every front," Nordenberg said in recommending the officers' salaries. "One of the critical factors in the high levels of success we have been able to achieve is the leadership provided by the officers of the University. This is an unbelievably capable, creative and committed group. In fact, I cannot imagine that any other university is blessed with a leadership team that has worked harder or more effectively. I feel genuinely privileged to lead this team."

Lieberman added, "I think it's worth noting how lucky we are both at the University of Pittsburgh and — I won't even limit it to the city of Pittsburgh — to the western Pennsylvania area, to have individuals like this supporting this region. We are, I think, blessed is not too strong a word to use, and we're lucky to have people of this caliber, integrity and capability not only for Pitt but for this entire region."

As part of their executive benefits packages, senior administrators also receive: a group term life insurance basic policy of $50,000 plus three times salary rounded to the next higher thousand; accidental death and dismemberment insurance (same amount); excess general liability insurance providing personal liability coverage of $5 million; up to $5,000 per year for health care expenses not covered by basic insurance packages; up to $5,000 per year for tax preparation and financial planning services (reported as taxable income), and initiation fees and monthly dues for selected clubs as determined by the chancellor for the other administrators, and as determined by the chair of the trustees for the chancellor.

The chancellor, provost, senior vice chancellor for Health Sciences, executive vice chancellor and vice chancellor for Institutional Advancement receive the use of an automobile for business and personal use.

Regarding the administrative salary increases, James Cassing, University Senate president, told the University Times: "I commend these University officers for their accomplishments as reflected in their well-deserved salary increases. As the board chair has said, Pitt continues to gain momentum. At the same time, we should remember that the faculty and staff serve the core purpose of the University and are pleased to share the credit for Pitt's successes. I'm sure that we all anticipate that this will be reflected in wages across the University beyond the administration."

The pool of money for faculty and staff salaries was increased by 4 percent for the 2002 fiscal year, broken down as follows: 2.5 percent for maintenance of real salary for satisfactory performance; 1 percent for merit, and 0.5 percent for market and equity raises.

–Peter Hart

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