Naming of college chief may stall

Friday, Jan. 7, 2005 | 11:16 a.m.

The formal appointment for Nevada State College's new president may get hung up today on the details of his employment contract.

The proposed contract would pay Fred Maryanski, currently interim provost at the University of Connecticut, $225,000 a year.

That's $30,000 more than his predecessor, Kerry Romesburg, and almost $12,000 more than UNR President John Lilley. Only UNLV President Carol Harter makes more, and only because her contract is partially subsidized by the university's foundation.

That has raised at least the ire of Regent Steve Sisolak, who questioned the fairness of paying Maryanski more for running a 1,000-student state college than the president of a 16,000-student university.

"I think this could demorialize the ones we've got or I think it could lose us a president," Sisolak said of the salary difference, which he said may also cause the other presidents to resent Maryanski.

But Interim Chancellor Jim Rogers said the price tag is necessary to bring high-quality administrators to Nevada. He supported supplementing Harter's contract through the foundation and said he wants to see all of the presidential salaries gradually go up.

"I think they've just been underpaid," Rogers said. "We need to be more competitive and keep the good presidents we've got. There's no better investment then good management, and for good management you have to pay good wages."

Regent Mark Alden, chairman of the committee who selected Maryanski, agreed.

"To get a person with his qualifications and background from one of the top universities in the country, that is chump change," Alden said. "We're very fortunate to have found him."

Maryanski's proposed four-year contract gives him tenure, a $15,000 housing allowance, an $8,000 car allowance, a $5,000 host account and reimburses him and his wife, Karen, for moving and travel costs prior to beginning work Feb. 1. The supplemental allowances are the same benefits given to all presidents.

A joint committee of regents and Nevada State College stakeholders unanimously selected Maryanski for the position after a national search. The full Board of Regents is scheduled to vote on the appointment this afternoon at a special videoconference aired at the University and Community College System of Nevada offices in Las Vegas, Reno and Elko.