The UW System Board of Regents will meet this week to discuss the salary of Chancellor Wiley’s successor.

It is anticipated they will raise the earnings of the next chancellor $42,500 to $125,000 more than Chancellor Wiley’s current salary to attract a more qualified applicant. In order to maintain a quality university, the Board of Regents would be wise to vote in favor of this increase.

Chancellor Wiley’s current salary is $327,000 a year, and while this may seem like a large amount of money, it is actually 20 percent below the norm for a major Big Ten University.

University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman, for example, receives more than $500,000 in base salary. With other compensation, including but not limited to, a car, a three-story house and a $100,000 yearly bonus President Coleman makes over $750,000 annually with the added incentives.

This amount is more than twice the salary of Chancellor Wiley, and President Coleman is not alone. More than 50 public university leaders make over $400,000.

Back in Wisconsin, however, Mike Mikalsen, an aide to State Sen.. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, commented that an increase of this magnitude “would go over like a lead balloon” in the state legislator in light of an estimated $400 million decrease in tax revenue.

Board of Regents President Mark Bradley retorted, “Well, how would a failed search go over? These people compete in national and international markets. If you aren’t realistic for what these types of jobs go for, then you will be out of the running.”

While an increase in administrative salary may not seem like the best way to spend university funds, no quality candidates will apply for a UW-Madison Chancellorship that pays one of the lowest of the Big Ten Universities.

Supporting a salary increase is the only way the Board of Regents can ensure a quality candidate will be found to continue UW-Madison’s tradition of excellence.