College presidents' paychecks raise brows - Kevin Kiley, Inside Higher Ed

Literally moments after the system's Board of Trustees announced that it was going to increase next fall's tuition by 12 percent, an additional $294 a semester, the board turned around and approved a salary of $400,000 for the new president of San Diego State, Elliot Hirshman -- $350,000 in state funds and $50,000 from the campus's foundation -- a bump of more than $100,000 from what his predecessor made last year. "There's never a good time to raise presidents' pay," said Michael Uhlenkamp, a spokesman for the Cal State system. "But when there are immediate needs, whether taboo or not, we have to fill them." The question of whether it's appropriate for higher education administrators to be making very large salaries is highly contentious, with vocal advocates on each side of the issue.