Citing his job performance and the need for leadership continuity in "extraordinary" economic times, the Arizona Board of Regents is poised to give Northern Arizona University President John Haeger a three-year contract extension and pay raise.

The $48,000 proposed hike in total compensation would bring Haeger's salary in line with what presidents at other universities of comparable size and research level are paid. He has said he will donate the first-year raise to charity.

Currently, Haeger is paid a $300,000 base salary. The median president's salary at NAU peer institutions is $335,491. At other public, "high research" universities, of which NAU is categorized, median president's salary is $345,000, and at public universities with similar budgets, the median president's salary is $324,643.

The contract extension comes a year before Haeger's current deal is set to end.

Andrea Smiley, ABOR spokeswoman, said "extraordinary" fiscal times for the state university system necessisated the Regents' move to secure Haeger at NAU.

"We're just in a time of real fiscal uncertainty," Smiley said Tuesday. Not only are the Regents pleased with Haeger's performance, she added, but also they want the kind of leadership continuity Haeger would provide.

He is a leader who is aware of the challenges facing higher education in Arizona, noted Smiley, who added that FY2010 budget will be even more challenging.

The state's $3 billion budget shortfall has meant serious belt-tightening budget maneuvers for the entire state university system. Originally, NAU was allocated $161.5 million for FY2009, but as the state's budget deficit deepened, lawmakers cut back that allocation by $21.3 million, to $140.2 million. NAU has swept balances, laid off 45 people, kept more than 100 positions unfilled, increased class sizes, delayed purchases and stopped development of additional academic programs to meet the reduced budget allocation.

The typical review process of Haeger's performance has already been conducted. It includes assessing 51 factors in eight categories, an evaluation from each Regent, and a "360" review with a president's campus leaders, community leaders, state leaders and anyone else who would have contact with the president.

Smiley said the Regents look at peer institutions and do some benchmarking in order to determine salary and benefits packages for its university presidents.

With allowances and benefits, Haeger's total compensation is $414,000. The proposed hike would add $48,000 in base salary and what university officials are terming "deferred compensation," plus benefits, for an 11.6 percent increase in total compensation to $462,000.

The allocation of the extra $48,000 will not be determined until the board meeting.

If the contract is approved, the NAU president says he will donate the first-year increase to charity.

ABOR will meet for two days beginning Thursday at the NAU High Country Conference Center. The public comment session for all agenda items will be at 10:15 a.m. Thursday.

Laura Clymer can be reached at lclymer@azdailysun.com or 913-8601.

University president salaries

Comparison group/NAU/ Average/Median/Minimum/Maximum/Number of Cases

Traditional Budget Group*/300,000/325,839/ 324,643/ 167,606 / 429,000/ 39

NAU Peer Group**/300,000/340,078/335,491 /210,045/ 487,620 /12

Public 'High Research'***/300,000/348,479/ 345,000/ 208,000/ 527,403/59

*Public universities with total budgets between $275 million and $500 million. NAU's budget is about $400 million)

**Based on institutional size, student/faculty demographics, program mix, research focus)

***Carnegie Foundation's 7 categories of higher education institutions

NAU president's salary ranked 10th of 13 in CUPA survey

Executive compensation pay based 2008-09 College and University Professional Association (CUPA) survey. Responses to the survey were confidential and three of the universities considered in NAU's peer group didn't report. When NAU is included in the list, the president's salary ranks 10th out of 13.

The peer salaries are as follows:

$487,620

$420,041

$404,000

$380,000

$354,495

$345,000

$325,981

$324,643

$315,000

$300,000 (NAU)

$277,160

$236,946

$210,045