£423k university chief ’s pay hiked ... as he axes 75 staff to save cash
A UNIVERSITY boss who was shamed by a minister over his bloated salary is now earning £423,000 after another pay hike, it emerged yesterday.
Sir Christopher Snowden was given a rise of more than £5,000 from the University of Southampton in the last academic year, annual accounts show.
Last month it was announced the vice chancellor aims to cut up to 75 academic jobs to save cash.
In June, Sir Christopher was criticised by universities minister Jo Johnson over his pay. Mr Johnson said Southampton’s vice chancellor wage bill had increased by 55 per cent over six years, and called for a stop to the ‘endless upwards ratchet’. The latest accounts show his pay was actually even higher at the time.
Yesterday Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union, branded the pay rise ‘insulting’. She said: ‘To accept this kind of pay rise while saying he must axe 75 academic jobs because money is tight beggars belief.’
Southampton’s accounts show Sir Christopher earned £423,000 between August 1 2016 to July 31 2017 – the last academic year. The previous year, he only worked ten months because he started his job on October 1, and got paid £348,000 for this period. Had he worked the full 12 months, this on average would work out as an annual salary of £417,600 – meaning the year- on-year pay rise over the two academic years would have been £5,400, or 1.3 per cent.
This makes him among the highest earning vice chancellors. The highest is Dame Glynis Breakwell, of Bath University, who earns £468,000 but will shortly be stepping down following a row over her pay.
Southampton – one of the Russell Group of leading UK universities – got only the minimum award of bronze in a new Government rankings on teaching standards earlier this year.
The pay rise was awarded before the results of the Teaching Excellence Framework were revealed, however.
Two weeks ago, Southampton also caused outrage among staff by advertising for a chauffeur and caretaker for the vice chancellor and other university dignitaries.
The job cuts at Southampton are part of plans to move from eight to five faculties and will combine subject areas into ‘more coherent groupings’.
Beginning this month, the academic head count will be reduced by between 50 and 75 posts, through a ‘targeted voluntary severance scheme’, to save the university money. According to the UCU, a decade ago 60 per cent of the university’s income went on staff costs, while now that figure is now just 53 per cent.
A Southampton spokesman said Sir Christopher’s pay rise was in line with the higher education national pay award, and he has declined a similar increment for 2017-18. They added that it is set by an independent remuneration committee.
Dr Gill Rider, chairman of the University Council, said his remuneration, reflects his experience as a ‘world-class capable leader’. She said: ‘[Sir Christopher] is a hugely respected academic, knighted for his services to engineering and higher education. He is one of the most experienced vice chancellors in the sector with a track record of delivering long- term exceptional results, and he is a former president of Universities UK.’
‘It beggars belief’