Salary increases 5.9 percent for faculty, Bollinger By Anna Clark Daily Staff Reporter The University Board of Regents on Friday unanimously approved a 5 percent pay increase for University President Lee Bollinger, making him the seventh-highest paid employee on campus with a $311,000 salary. Following the regents' applause, Bollinger thanked his wife Jean and the regents. "There is an uncompromising commitment to excellence here. And I'd like to thank my wife, who keeps the house a lively place on campus," Bollinger said. Regent Laurence Deitch (D-Bloomfield Hills) moved for the vote to increase Bollinger's salary, praising him for his leadership the past three years. "You are a pleasure to work with," Deitch said. Bollinger's pay increase coincides with University-wide faculty raises, which averaged 5.9 percent for the 1999-2000 academic year. Staff increases at all levels averaged 3.9 percent. Merit salary increases for deans averaged 4.55 percent. "These are very good salary increases," Provost Nancy Cantor said. "They reflect a real intent on the University's part to recruit and retain faculty and staff." "There's a very tight academic labor market" across the nation and it's crucial for the University to keep pace, Cantor said. "Our peer institutions have a similar focus in recruiting and retaining quality faculty and staff," Cantor said. "And we're squarely in there." While pay increases at the University are typical, in past years budget problems forced salary freezes, although that has not occurred in more than a decade. Vice President for Medical Affairs Gilbert Omenn retains his distinction as the highest paid person at the University, with a $540,750 salary - a 5 percent raise from the $515,000 he is earning in the current academic year. Executive Director of University Hospitals and Health Centers Larry Warren is the second highest paid employee, with a $375,000 annual salary. Bollinger' salary ranks as the fifth highest at the University for the current academic year. Head Football Coach Lloyd Carr will be the top earner in the Althletic Department with a salary of $287,000, while Athletic Director Tom Goss will receive a salary of $280,500 - making them the eighth- and ninth-highest paid University employees, respectively. Carr, Men's Basketball Coach Brian Ellerbe and Hockey Coach Red Berenson all received salary increases of 2.5 percent. Originally on page 1A in the 1-24-2000 issue of the Daily.