Revelations about Western President Amit Chakma’s 2014 salary have sparked debate across the university community, including non-confidence votes being conducted among the institution’s largest bargaining units. In the face of that criticism, however, the Chair of Western’s Board of Governors said Chakma is recognized nationally and internationally as one of the most influential academic leaders in Canada, which is reflected in his salary.
“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,” Chirag Shah said.
Last week, Western figures showed the university president was paid $924,000 (plus $43,244.88 in taxable benefits) in 2014. That number made him the fourth-highest paid public servant in Ontario, and highest paid university president.
Chakma’s number is somewhat deceiving as his annual base salary remained at $440,000. However, Western made a ‘double-payment’ to the president in lieu of a one-year administrative leave included in his first five-year contract, which concluded June 2014. The board re-appointed Chakma to a second five-year term extending to June 30, 2019. That contract also calls for a year administrative leave or payment in lieu of that leave.
Shah sees these terms as necessary for attracting and retaining “the right president at the right time for Western.”
Not all agree with the Board chair’s stance.
Outrage over the salary has spanned the gamut – from simple social media snark to an anonymously started online petition of non-confidence in the president and Board chair that has garnered more than 5,000 signatures in less than a week.
“The money is outrageous on its own in this time of austerity,” said Alison Hearn, UWOFA president. “But it’s more shameful in the context of the cuts we have been seeing on campus, of rising student debt and tuition, of class sizes increasing, of rising number of contract faculty who have no job security and aren’t paid very well. The money represents something greater.
“Everything has been crystallized by this particular issue. The issue has galvanized dissent that was already there.”
On Monday night, nearly 100 members of the University of Western Ontario Faculty Association (UWOFA) unanimously called for a non-confidence vote among the membership concerning both the president and Board chair. Those results will be announced later today.
“I don’t really care if he gives it back or not. He negotiated that deal, but I cannot say ‘good on him.’” Hearn said. “He’s the president of a public institution; he’s not a CEO. That’s tuition money. That’s taxpayer dollars going into his pocket. That would mean his job is equivalent to teaching 130 courses to students in a year.
“This signals a larger problem about priorities on campus – not just at Western, but across Canada. Sure, he could give the money back, but I don’t think that solves the problem.”
University of Western Ontario Staff Association (UWOSA) membership is also conducting a non-confidence vote among its members, said Karen Foullong, UWOSA president.
Both bargaining units said they may present the results of their votes at the next Senate meeting. Any organization can offer a non-confidence vote, however only a non-confidence vote by the university Senate triggers something beyond symbolic.
The next meeting of the Senate is scheduled for April 10.
