A bill introduced in the state legislature Friday seeks to make changes in the way the University of California awards executive pay raises.
The bill, authored by Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco), calls on lawmakers to outlaw pay raises for top university administrators during bad budget years or when student fees are increased. It would also prohibit incoming executives from earning more than 105 percent of their predecessors’ pay.
The bill would apply to both the UC and the California State University. Both systems hiked executive pay last year while students saw tuition increases.
“Time and time again, rather than protecting the needs of students and California families, the regents and trustees line the pockets of their top executives,” Yee said in a statement Friday.
Tuition revenue represents the largest share of UC core funds, which the university uses to cover its operational expenses. Seventy-two percent of that money goes to paying employees, including faculty.
The UC defends salary boosts for executives by saying that they are necessary to remain competitive with other universities and maintain top-level employees.
Though CSU would be mandated to comply, the legislature can only request the UC Board of Regents to adopt the policy changes outlined in the bill because the UC exercises constitutional autonomy, according to the statement.
Compiled by Naheed Rajwani, Bruin senior staff.