DETROIT — Wayne State University’s incoming President Dr. M. Roy Wilson is expected to earn over half a million dollars annually in pay, benefits and bonuses, according to his job contract, which was made public on Monday, June 17.

He will receive close to $500,000, as a base salary, and at the end of his fifth year, is expected to receive a $50,000 bonus.  The incoming president will also get an additional $75,000, after completing his first year on the job.

Wilson will make significantly more than his predecessor, outgoing President Allan Gilmour, who earned $410,000 annually.

According to an analysis by the Chronicle of Higher Education, which was published in May, the median income for university presidents for the 2011/2012 school year was $441,392, about four times that of a professor.

Annie Derbabian, a recent Wayne State University (WSU) graduate agrees that the person who runs the university should be well-compensated, if he does a good job. However, she believes that Wilson should not earn more than his predecessor.

“Start at what Gilmour was making and go from there, because we don’t know how this guy is going to perform,” she said.

Public university presidents (or chancellors) are usually responsible for overseeing the university administration. They report to the elected board of governors (or trustees) on university issues, such as the school’s finances, admissions, retention and academic performance. They also represent the university at academic conferences, inform students and staff of any change in the plans or policies of the school, and try to acquire and maintain donors.

Wilson, who is an ophthalmologist and a researcher, has signed a five-year contract, with Wayne State, which begins on August 1. 

Wilson.

He was voted the 12th president of WSU by all eight members of the School’s board of governors on June 5.

The incoming president is the former chancellor of the University of Colorado-Denver.

Eugene Driker, a member of the WSU Board of Governors, said Wilson’s pay is fair.

“You cannot compare his salary to the median salary of university presidents in the country because Wayne State is not a median university; it’s a top 2 percent research university, with a law school, medical school, engineering and a liberal arts college.” he added. “Dr. Wilson brings a lifetime of experience in administration and research.”

Driker said Wilson will be receiving better pay than Gilmour, because the latter was recruited initially as an interim president, under different circumstances, in a different competitive environment.  

The package that Wilson has been offered makes him the third highest earner among the heads of all universities in the State.  He comes in behind the president of the University of Michigan and the president of Michigan State University, who earn $918,783 and 520,000 annually, respectively.

An Eastern Michigan University graduate described university presidents’ salaries as “ridiculous.”

“Public universities are supposed to be non-profit, which means they pay zero taxes,” he said. “This explains exactly how super rich colleges are stealing from poor college students and taking advantage of purchasing land and houses from cities in which they don’t have to pay any taxes. It’s all a scheme.”