In keeping with the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act, Western has released an annual list of employees whose 2014 income met or exceeded $100,000, as reflected on their T4 slips. Also outlined on the list are taxable benefits for the year 2014.
In 2014, Western had approximately the equivalent of 6,300 full-time faculty and staff who served the needs of about 32,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
“We are satisfied that the salaries of Western faculty and staff reflect fair compensation for each individual’s scope of responsibility, academic and professional credentials, and years of service,” said Chirag Shah, chair of the university’s Board of Governors. “Western aims to attract and retain the best faculty, staff and students in order to remain competitive provincially, nationally and globally, and to fulfil our commitment to excellence in teaching and research.”
Shah notes the annual base salary for Amit Chakma, president and vice-chancellor, remains at $440,000 where it has been frozen since he joined Western in 2009. However, to ensure continuity of leadership at a critical time, Chakma received payment in lieu of a one-year administrative leave that was included in his first five-year contract, which concluded in June 2014. The board re-appointed Chakma to a second five-year term extending to June 30, 2019.
“Dr. Chakma is recognized nationally and internationally as one of the most influential academic leaders in Canada, which is reflected in his salary,” Shah said. “The continued momentum of Western’s drive to become a world-class research university and to raise Canada’s profile as a leader in international education has benefited greatly from his guidance since his arrival in 2009, and especially over the last year.”