Are Community College Leaders Entitled to Pay Raises Amidst the Recession?
The pandemic of 2020-21 has wreaked havoc on higher education budgets worldwide. Here in the United States, while each state faces its specific economic setbacks, all community colleges have endured significant spending reductions and employee lay-offs.
According to financial experts, community colleges are the most susceptible to these budget cuts, as community college enrollment tends to soar when the economy falters. Wake Technical Community College, one of many North Carolina institutions experienced a 14 percent increase in student enrollment from just last year alone! Considering that public educational institutions subsidize the cost of teaching students, the increased enrollment puts greater financial demands on the campus when their budgets are being slashed.
With soaring enrollment rates, college leaders fear that they will not be able to provide students with the ideal resources, smaller class sizes, and one-on-one time with instructors. Yet, despite these national concerns, some leaders are still raking in higher salaries—regardless of their school’s budgetary shortfalls.
Ron Polaneczky, writing in The Philadelphia Inquirer,r notes that "according to a recent survey conducted by his organization, the compensation of public community-college presidents range from $81,000 to $390,000, not including extra benefits for housing and car expenses. The salary size is influenced by the size of the school, its location, and the number of its students and employees."
Community College Pay Raises: Justified or Unfair?
While several community college leaders have accepted
