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Campus Notes
Campus Notes is your one-stop shop for news and notes related to Triangle universities and community colleges. We'll cover it all here, from policy discussions to the silly things those crazy college kids are doing. Got an idea? Request? Criticism? Let us know. eric.ferreri@newsobserver.com.
Former chancellor Oblinger gets a pay cut
Submitted by eferreri on 08/14/2009 - 13:22
Former N.C. State University Chancellor James Oblinger just got a pay cut.
Oblinger, who resigned in early June amid revelations over his role in the hiring of former First Lady Mary Easley, had until today [Friday] been earning his full administrative salary - $420,000 annually, or $35,000 a month.
Under an agreement he forged with UNC system President Erskine Bowles when he resigned, he was to receive that full salary for six months before returning to the faculty at a lower wage.
But the UNC system's Board of Governors voted Friday to scale his pay back immediately. He will now earn $173,000 annually, a salary commensurate with other members of the NCSU faculty. He will teach food science.
"This is absolutely an appropriate salary, and after such a careful process I am completely comfortable with it," said James Woodward, NCSU's interim chancellor.
The UNC system board's vote was split, with 17 members voting for the change and 10 voting against it. Many who opposed the change said they did so in support of Bowles' decision.
The change in salary over the four months that Oblinger would have received his full pay amounts to about $82,000.
"I think the board acknowledged [Oblinger's] enormous contributions but felt there needed to be consequences for some things that went terribly wrong," said Hannah Gage, the UNC system board's chairwoman. "I think everyone is glad to put this behind us."
Oblinger resigned as chancellor in early June after admitting to Bowles that he had played a role in the university's hiring of former state First Lady Mary Easley in 2005.
Oblinger had long maintained that he wasn't involved, and in his resignation letter wrote that he had simply forgotten his involvement and hadn't intentionally done anything wrong.
Oblinger could not be reached Friday.
For more on this story, read Saturday's News & Observer.
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Comments
I love to read interesting
Tue, 08/25/2009 - 21:22 — Bernardcraig20I love to read interesting post that has knowledge to impart regarding current issues! Thank you for sharing your insights! I will avidly wait for your next entry.
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College Girl
wow, earn so much money.
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 00:52 — casselinwow, earn so much money. very heartly am i .
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darkfall gold
But i really not interesting
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 01:00 — casselinBut i really not interesting darkfall gold and aion kinah even more champions online resources . I like my game life not work for anybody to earn more and more money.
Working will not stop, and
Mon, 11/23/2009 - 03:20 — casselinWorking will not stop, and my heart will stop.
fallen earth chips
What you really need to examine is ....
Thu, 08/20/2009 - 10:20 — a_wimbushhow the growth of these administrators has occurred in the UNC General Administraion office since Erskine Bowles took office. He publicized how he was going to reduce the administrators but has quietly been adding. Compare the total salary dollars spent in that office now and in the past couple of years.
173 grand a year to teach
Sat, 08/15/2009 - 00:16 — getfact173 grand a year to teach "food science". All we hear is poor poor teachers??????? We don't want to hear that anymore. Probably teaches 3 classes a week for that kind of money? Education has turned into a greedy pad their own pockets racket. They all need a salary re-adjustment down to a reality based amount. Fat cats full of themselves.
We, the taxpayers, are
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 22:17 — JustObservingWe, the taxpayers, are paying him 173K too much!! The guy participated in a power play, and then lied about it.
Why is he still employed?
Clean-up time
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 22:12 — Fedup09The entire university system in this state appears to be in need of a thorough audit and a good house cleaning. Too many exceptions being made and too little oversight of state tax dollars. It is a bloated, undisciplined system which cannot continue .
I will drink to that! H20
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 22:24 — Ithinkimlosin_it4Clean up time, I will drink to that! H20 of course.
Commiserate?
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 22:05 — dlhertzberg@yah...Did the psychologic-behavioral physicists rubber stamp that he wouldn't quit for that much no less?
Did they nudge, wink and demand a good round of, "Salary Negotiation?"
Former chancellor Oblinger gets a pay cut
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 20:06 — igliigliWhile Dr. Oblinger's salary is very excessive, it is tiny compared to the millions paid to the NC State and UNC coaches and the millions more paid to the coaches when they are fired. If you want to fix the system, start with the coaches.
I'm not a sports fan,
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 20:51 — barbie50I'm not a sports fan, but...bear these thoughts in mind.
1) coaches actually bring revenue to a school, unlike the oblingers of the world.
2) large portions of coach positions are paid by the sports clubs, nike revenue etal
Ceased! I say
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 19:10 — PuddentainMy yearly contribution has ceased until such a time that Oblinger, Nielson and Bowles are no longer involved with the UNC system.
Bowles is either clueless or complicit. The other two are guilty of serious ethics violations.
a day late and 173K dollars
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 18:47 — robdaricha day late and 173K dollars short
Oblinger either has
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 17:22 — barbie50Oblinger either has premature senility, in which case he will soon be retired because he is unable to remember enough to teach a class. Or, is he a liar, who conveniently "forgot" his role in the Easley affair and then killed his emails that would have proven differently. I think the second diagnose, liar, is accurate and he should be fired.
tax dollars wasted
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 17:11 — backtoschoolto those who are concerned about your tax dollars being blown: remember that the state employs a known, convicted , admitted felon child molester. Dr Robert C Owens is a physician who makes nearly 200,000 working for Dept of Corrections who molested a little girl . Please tell your legislators @ nc.gov that we dont want molesters in state government
NCSU
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 16:53 — WonderdogHe needs to be fired and run out of town. No land-grant university needs any crooks teaching our future leaders especially food science.
This is what happens when you hired third string talent
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 16:42 — followthemoneyNCSU has to stop hiring third string talent developed within the NCSU department of deadwood. MAF was run off because she wanted to get rid of the deadwood.
This is wonderful....Erskine
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 15:03 — deltakayakerThis is wonderful....Erskine and Hannah have figured out a way to sell some more newspapers on Saturday morning. Maybe Oblinger and Mary can use the same attorney as they sue the university for employment contract issues! The incompetence just keeps rolling....what a circus...thanks Erkine for the three ring entertainment!
Geez, still a lot of money..........
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 14:52 — WuptdoWhat a racket. I think we need a commision full of non-political folks and investigate our colleges and payrolls. In this day and age, "administrators" are a dime a dozen. Also, there are many talented retired Generals & Admirals who have run organization this big.
Who does have the most bloated administraton in NC?
1) WCPSS
2) NC State
3) NC Dept of Transporation
4) UNC-Chapel Hill
5) All of the above
College Salaries
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 14:44 — pinklaptopNo one wants to really look into the salaries and budgets of colleges and universities but expect families to accept the fact that tuition increases every year. College is the biggest sham going. Those guys are sitting back getting paid enormous salaries and students are getting in more debt than ever. This needs to be investigated. private school grants
What a joke
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 14:37 — mickiepErskine Bowles is a longtime democrat political hack who should also lose his position as President of the UNC system for having participated as much or more in the Mary Easley cronism debacle as his subordinates.
At $170,000 Obbie's no more
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 14:27 — AgentPierceAt $170,000 Obbie's no more than a lowly Speaker's Bureau Director. Oh the shame of it all.
Hannah Gage has now used the phrase "put this all behind us" at least nine times since Mary Queen of Smug first urinated in the NCSU punch bowl last Spring. I predict she'll use it a minimum of three more times. Wanna bet?
My original idea of a dunking booth in the Brickyard for Obbie and Larry The Provost still seems valid to me.
Still overpaid
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 14:27 — PackMan97By my calculations, Oblinger is still overpaid by $173,000/year.
Oblinger
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 14:15 — wiygulOblinger should be asked to leave the University. He should not be paid for his inappropriate actions and lying.
Bowles Needs Pay Cut
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 14:11 — smithfieldsamFact is that Erskine Bowles, his staff and the Board of Governors knew of the entire Mary Easley affair last summer and rubber-stamped the reasoning authorizing her pay increase. The memo issued by the BOG was written at NC State NOT by the BOG or Bowles or his staff. Oblinger lied to the public and devised a cover-up; Bowles was part of it. He just wanted the entire situation to go away. He is no better than Richard Nixon.
Geez I wish I received a pay
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 14:08 — stevemichaelsGeez I wish I received a pay "cut" to $173K -
Does anyone have to wonder why most families cannot afford college anymore? God forbid if anyone ever questions these institutions on budget cuts - even if they have to cut budgets they usually lay off some janitors or maintenance folks - this really sickens me
I'm sure he'll endeavor to
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 14:01 — kedavraI'm sure he'll endeavor to persevere.
Oh the humanity, only a mere
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 13:57 — interested860Oh the humanity, only a mere 173,000/yr.
Still about 100,000 too much!
WHAT A TRAGEDY!!!!!!!
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 13:58 — PercyKutionJust HOW is the lying, thieving, CROOKED scumbag going to get by on only $173,000 when he's been getting $420,000? This just ain't right some way or other!!!!!! Unless........unless.......his buddies in the Sleazely Gang make up the difference so he'll keep his mouth shut. I guess that WOULD work. Has so far anyway.