Salaries of Two Mississippi Public University Presidents Approach $1 Million Annually

Unprecedented Salary Disparities in Higher Education

The annual salaries for the presidents of two public universities in Mississippi have been creeping toward astonishing yearly totals of nearly $1 million, sparking a discourse about the stark wage gap in higher education. This while, the pay for faculty and staff at the state’s eight universities remains static.

Glenn Boyce, President of the University of Mississippi, and Mark Keenum, President of Mississippi State University are the two figureheads at the center of this growing wage gap controversy. Both presidents now command yearly salaries of $950,000, where taxpayers carry the weight of $500,000 of each of their salaries and the remaining funds are supplemented by the universities’ respective private foundations. This following a $100,000 pay raise granted after performance reviews conducted by the Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees.

Economic Impact Argument

The board, which did not grant a raise to Nora Miller, President of Mississippi University for Women, justified the pay increases by emphasizing the significant role university presidents play across the state. They argue that Mississippi’s public university system is poised to have a staggering $8 billion impact on the state’s economy over the next six years. Despite this, information regarding salary decisions is deemed confidential and classified as personnel matters.

High-Earning Presidents’ Achievements

Both presidents have overseen noteworthy achievements during their tenures; the National Science Foundation has listed Mississippi State University as a top research institution under Keenum’s guidance. Similarly, Boyce’s campaign has accrued over $1.5 billion in private support for the University of Mississippi. Boyce expressed gratitude for the acknowledgment of his leadership and credited the university’s success to the commitment of the faculty and staff.

Premium Packages and Retention Plans

Last month, the board also greenlighted significant “retention” plans for Boyce and Keenum, a type of bonus sponsored by the private foundations that is not granted to any other college president in Mississippi. However, details of these retention plans and whether they serve scholarship purposes remain undisclosed.

State Priorities and Faculty Underpayment

Amid these controversies, the board also released its legislative priorities for the next year, a major one being addressing the underpayment of faculty and staff in relation to their counterparts at other Southern universities. The average faculty member in Mississippi has seen a significant pay cut since 2016 due to inflation, with the average salary being $68,676 in 2022.

Known wage increases have been nominal and counterproductive due to the rising costs of health insurance and inflation, thereby making substantial raises for faculty an elusive target. It remains to be seen how the board will address these pressing economic disparities and bring about wage parity at Mississippi’s public universities.