Don’t create unnecessary positions

I recently became aware that the University of Lethbridge is inviting applications for the newly created position of Director of the Office of the President. According to the U of L job site, this non-academic position “is responsible for providing expert advice and support to the University President and other members of the senior executive team on a variety of policies, practices, and initiatives.” The hiring pay range at the upper end is close to $100,000 a year.

The U of L president currently makes about $600,000 a year. He already has a senior adviser and an executive assistant. Other members of the “senior executive team” also have high six-figure salaries and their own support staffs. Why do these senior administrators need additional help to do their jobs? To me, this is a slap in the face to lowerlevel U of L employees and students who are constantly told that they must do more with less.

This action also flies in the face of the province’s recent initiative to cut back on excessive pay rates for postsecondary presidents and other senior executives. It’s a way that the university can attract future presidents who face a lower salary than the current president enjoys. Essentially the U of L can say to a candidate, “We can’t pay you what the previous guy got, but we were able to hire an executive director who will do a lot of his grunt work so you don’t have to.”

I believe the Board of Governors has a fiduciary duty to the taxpayers of this province to closely monitor attempts by senior administrators to feather their nests. I would suggest that instead of creating this unnecessary position, the U of L could better spend its dollars by creating more scholarships for students or reducing their fees.

Out-of-control administrative growth at universities is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. It’s been going on for a long time. University boards need to be independent bodies, and not a rubber stamp for what administrators want.

Greg Rohovie

Lethbridge