In what University of California officials called evidence of
the university’s commitment toward transparency, compensation
for three newly appointed senior officials was released to the
public Friday shortly after their appointments during a special
closed meeting of the UC Board of Regents.
The board named Wyatt Hume as provost of the UC system,
officially giving him the position he has been temporarily filling
since former Provost MRC Greenwood, who was later found to have
violated UC conflict-of-interest policies, resigned last November.
Hume took on the interim position while already serving as the
UC’s executive vice provost and vice president for academic
and health affairs.
As provost, Hume will hold the second-highest post at the UC,
second only to the president. His duties will include overseeing
academic planning, research, and health and academic policies at
the university. Hume will also serve as senior vice president for
academic affairs.
Plagued by controversy over senior compensation in recent
months, during which a series of sharply critical reports have
found dozens of flaws in the UC’s policies, officials were
careful to immediately disclose the salary actions made by the
board after they were decided upon in closed session.
“We’re committed, as a part of all the issues
regarding compensation, to transparency and full disclosure. The
action taken today is a step in that direction,” regents
chairman Gerald Parsky said.
The UC decided Hume will earn a salary of $362,500, a 23-percent
increase over his current base salary of $295,000.
In a separate appointment, Marie Berggren, who has been the
acting UC treasurer since last July, was appointed new chief
investment officer and vice president for investments, filling
positions that have been vacant since July 2005. She will also
continue to serve as acting UC treasurer and will receive an annual
salary of $375,000, a 34.5-percent increase over her current base
salary of $278,800.
UC officials said Hume and Berggren will receive additional
compensation, including automobile and entertainment allowances
worth thousands of dollars, as well as other benefits.
The regents also named Jeffrey Blair, who has served as
university counsel since 1989, as acting general counsel of the
regents and acting vice president for legal affairs for the UC
Office of the President. Blair will be replacing current General
Counsel James Holt until a permanent replacement can be found.
Blair will receive an administrative stipend of $67,200 that
will raise his current annual salary of $149,500 to $216,700.
Though UC officials said they are committed to public disclosure
of senior compensation, they have maintained that salary
discussions need to be kept in closed session to protect
employees’ rights to privacy. In recent months, the salary
actions taken by the board have been released to the public almost
immediately.
The regents met via phone teleconference to make the three new
appointments. Parsky said holding the special meeting demonstrated
the importance of filling those positions.
UC President Robert Dynes said the three senior officials have
proven themselves as devoted and extremely competent
administrators.
With regard to Hume’s appointment, Dynes said the UC is
“very fortunate to have a person of such great integrity,
skill and devotion to the university.”
As the newly appointed provost, Hume said he is looking forward
to helping to shape the academic mission of the UC and that he is
“both deeply honored and excited” to work with the
regents, students, faculty and staff of the UC.
The university is still working to fill several other positions,
including UCLA’s chancellor. Outgoing Chancellor Albert
Carnesale is set to step down June 30, and the chancellor’s
search committee is scheduled to meet today in Oakland to continue
its search.
Parsky said the regents will discuss these positions during the
next regularly scheduled meeting in July.