Most university bosses are deciding their own salary

95% of vice chancellors sit on salary panels or go to meetings

ALMOST every university boss is on the panel deciding their salary, a study suggests. It found that 95 per cent of vicechancellors sit on their own remuneration committee – or at least attend its meetings.

The study highlights the controversy over six-figure salaries for university chiefs. Average vice-chancellor pay last year including pensions and benefits was more than £280,000. But the highest paid, Dame Glynis Breakwell of Bath University, received £468,000.

At the same time, student fees, which fund institutions and are paid for by taxpayer-provided loans, rose again to £9,250 a year. Universities have in the past defended the pay decisions by saying they are made by independent committees. But the latest data suggests otherwise. The figures are part of research into pay, perks and transparency carried out by the University and College Union, covering the academic year of 2016/17. The union, which represents staff, found that only seven universities did not allow the vicechancellor to sit on, or attend, their remuneration committee.

‘It is quite staggering,’ said UCU general secretary Sally Hunt. ‘For too long universities have got away with painting remuneration committees as independent bodies to deflect attention over senior pay. ‘The time has come for proper transparency of senior pay and perks in our universities and that starts with full disclosure of the shadowy remuneration committee.’ information The union request sent a to freedom 158 institutions of asking about membership of their remuneration committee, also asking for a copy of the most recent minutes. When asked about their vicechancellor’s membership of the remuneration committee, 15 universities refused to respond and one said it did not have a committee at all. Of those that did respond, and had a committee, almost half said the vice-chancellor was a member.

Of universities that said the vicechancellor was not on the remuneration committee, all but seven said they attended its meetings.

Only a quarter of universities replied with unedited minutes of the latest remuneration committee meeting.

Pay for university chiefs has risen significantly in recent years. In 2015/16 the typical salary of a vicechancellor was 6.4 times that of the average university worker, according to a government consultation paper in October. Last year it emerged that the vice-chancellor of Bath Spa received a £429,000 golden goodbye when she left her role, on top of her £250,000 salary.

Jo Johnson, who until last month was universities minister, has called for an end to the ‘upwards ratchet’ of salaries.

A spokesman for Universities UK, which represents vice-chancellors, said: ‘It is right to expect that the process for determining senior university staff pay is rigorous and transparent. The Committee of University Chairs’ new remuneration code, currently being consulted upon, will provide important guidance for university remuneration committees to ensure senior pay decisions are fair, accountable and justified, while recognising that competitive pay is necessary to attract first-rate leaders.’

Published last month, the draft code says the process for setting pay must be transparent.

Under Government proposals, universities will have to publish the pay of anyone earning more than £100,000 and explain salaries of more than £150,000 – equivalent to the Prime Minister’s salary.