Below is a comment from University of Alaska Fairbanks Emeritus Professor Richard Seifert, who is one of the 721 people, as of 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, who signed a petition against UA president Pat Gamble’s $320,000 bonus, atop his salary, if he stays until 2016. The comment was attached to Seifert’s signature. In June, the Board of Regents voted to renew Gamble’s contract and on the bonus.
As an Emeritus professor of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, who was awarded the Usibelli Service Award in 2009, and returned this award, all $10,000, to the University Foundation to support a student home for the Honors Program, I find it astoundingly ill-advised and indefensible from any personal or public perspective. When the University budget has been cut $12 million, why on earth would the UA Board of Regents reward very modest administrative performance in this way? Isn’t salary enough?
Gamble has been president of UA since mid-2010. His first full year, in 2011, he made $308,750—not including the free housing that comes with the job and a $9,250 car allowance. He began making $320,000 in 2012. Only one other state employee makes more than Gamble. That’s Dan Fauske, who was head of Alaska Housing Finance Corp, and is now running the Alaska Gasline Development Corp. Fauske made about $350,000 last year. His position does not include house or a car.
There are several appointments to the Board of Regents coming due. Governor Parnell would be wise NOT to reappoint any of the existing Regents. They obviously serve to be somebody as opposed to serving to do something. Every member of the board who voted for the bonus abdicated their fiduciary responsibility to the state. The president’s acceptance of the bonus is indicative of his lack of regard for the institution he is entrusted to oversee. This administration of the university may well be the most lackluster in its history.
Powerful.