CSU Executives Benefits Summary

An Excerpt from the 2006 version of the recruitment brochure used by the CSU to attract new executives.

As you read this, it might be useful to keep in mind the following from our Call for a Master White Paper:

"In particular, this MWP would call for a dramatic cutback in the number, power, pay and purpose of administrative positions within the system based on the principle that a) in times of crisis the most important functions must be safeguarded - such as teaching, scholarship, and access for students - functions that are at the heart of the universities, and the least important functions - such as the burgeoning and overpaid high administrative posts - should be cut first, and b) even if we were not in the throes of a budget crisis, the growth of administrative posts in number, their share of resources, their agenda, and their power vis a vis faculty and students in recent decades and years has been detrimental to the CSU system and its official purpose of being a part (along with the UC system) of providing the best possible higher educational system for California.

"We would propose, in contrast to the prevailing ethic that high administrative posts, such as Chancellor and Presidents, must be paid very large salaries in order to attract (i.e., bribe) the best talent to serve in education, while faculty are expected to serve principally for the love of education, that these high administrative posts be filled with those whose first and foremost purpose is to serve education and not primarily for the power, prestige, pay and perks. We will push for the same ethic that faculty are expected to live by to be explicitly the criteria for administrators and that the pay for high administrators be cut substantially and be tied to a formula relative to faculty pay. We expect that such a change would attract a very different kind of person to these administrative posts and that the relationship between administration and faculty will become cooperative rather than adversarial, benefiting the system, the state and the nation as a whole."

The California State University
January 2006

The Benefits of Working at the CSU

This summary of executive perquisites, relocation benefits, and general benefits provides an overview of systemwide benefits generally available to executives of the California State University (CSU).

Executive Perquisites

Trustee policy recognizes the extensive business-related, public relations, and institutional development obligations of executives and provides special executive perquisites in recognition of these obligations. Campus foundations may supplement perquisites for presidents based on existing campus practice and local community preferences.

Executive perquisites may be taxable income to the recipient, and executives are encouraged to seek individual consultation with competent tax advisors regarding the potential impact of executive benefits and allowances.

Housing and Housing Allowances

The CSU campus presidents are provided with an official CSU residence where available. If an official residence is not available, a housing allowance is provided to assist the campus president in securing a residence. Housing allowances vary by campus.

Automobile and Automobile Allowances

The CSU campus presidents have a vehicle available for business use, and the campus provides automobile insurance, maintenance, and gasoline expenses for that vehicle. In lieu of a university vehicle, the CSU campus presidents have the option of electing an automobile
allowance of $1000 per month. Automobile allowances may be available to executives in the Chancellor’s Office.

Entertainment Allowance

Campus presidents receive an entertainment allowance of $300 per month from the state’s general fund to defray entertainment costs incurred in the course of conducting official business and institutional development activities. Additionally, funds are also available from the state general fund for community relations expenses. Executives in the Office of the Chancellor have access to funds for community related expenses. Campus foundations may supplement general fund
entertainment allowances and community relations activities.