Regents Vote To Boost WSU President’s Salary

Washington State University’s regents on Friday voted school President Sam Smith a 7 percent salary increase and praised his leadership.

The board approved a raise of $9,325, bringing Smith’s base salary to $145,000, retroactive to July 1.

Smith’s additional deferred compensation of $70,000 a year remains unchanged. The retirement fund is from private money raised by WSU’s fund-raising arm, the WSU Foundation.

His last pay increase, of 8 percent, was approved in 1995, and his annual deferred compensation was increased by $20,000 last year. He has been president 12 years.

Regent Scott Lukins said the pay increase approved Friday was an expression of confidence in Smith’s leadership. Among other things, Lukins noted the role Smith played in a recent fund-raising campaign that secured $275 million in private contributions, exceeding the projected goal.

In other business, regents approved supplemental budget requests that will include $16 million for endowed professorships, student fellowships and for enhancements to educational programs offered off the main Pullman campus.

The requests are expected to be considered by Gov. Gary Locke in his supplemental budget proposal to the 1998 Legislature.