State’s education chiefs’ pay increasing

• By JORDAN BLUM
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Jul 17, 2008 - Page: 1A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Newly selected University of Louisiana System President Randy Moffett will receive a total pay package of $427,500 a year, the system’s Board of Supervisors voted Wednesday.

Replacing Moffett at Southeastern Louisiana University is new interim President John Crain.

Currently serving as the SLU provost and vice president of academic affairs, Crain is at least temporarily being boosted up from the No. 2 job on campus in Hammond.

Crain, 47, is a Southeastern graduate with an accounting background who has worked at the university for 21 years.

Crain’s appointment is effective immediately at a $227,945 salary.

Moffett replaced Sally Clausen as head of the UL System. Clausen had a salary package of $389,000 a year.

She is the new state commissioner of higher education.

Clausen’s new pay package  with the Louisiana Board of Regents is $425,000, just below Moffett’s new pay. Clausen also was president of Southeastern before Moffett.

Former Commissioner Joseph Savoie had made much less at $300,000, but he had turned down raises. He is the new University of Louisiana at Lafayette president.

Savoie said he has agreed to a new $350,000 base salary, but the larger total package is not yet finalized.

The new deals continue the steady nationwide escalation of college leaders’ salaries. Top higher education officials are among the highest-paid state employees in Louisiana. LSU System President John Lombardi leads the group with a $600,000 annual package.

Clausen’s new pay is broken down by a $377,000 base salary, $36,000 housing allowance and $12,000 car allowance, according to the Board of Regents.

Moffett’s pay includes a $375,000 salary, $36,000 housing allowance and $16,500 car allowance.