Although Sally Frost Mason is quick to say the lure of a higher salary was not the determining factor in her decision to accept the position of provost at Purdue University, it's a good bet the salary of the soon-to-depart dean of Kansas University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences will be substantially larger at her new job.
The opportunity to serve as provost at the nationally recognized Indiana university represents a major jump in her professional career and presumably a nice increase in her paycheck.
Apparently, and unfortunately, it appears KU is likely to assume the role of a "feeder" institution for other universities that can offer higher salaries than KU provides. Mason's selection as the Purdue provost is complimentary to KU because it offers proof KU is able to attract bright, able men and women on their way up the ladder of academic leadership.
However, it's too bad for the university, its students and the state of Kansas that KU is unable to hold these talented and outstanding faculty members and administrators. There is a good chance the opportunity to become a provost at a nationally recognized university played a key role in Mason's decision. Perhaps KU would not have been able to hold her even if her salary had been adjusted.
But, in the majority of cases in which KU is losing young, up-and-coming all-stars to other schools, salaries do play a critical role. This is particularly true with younger faculty members who can multiply the difference in the pay they are receiving at KU and the pay they are being offered at another school by the number of years they intend to continue teaching. Often, this totals an amount they cannot afford to turn down.
Kansas lawmakers and the governor continue to fiddle around on the question of salary compensation for university teachers in the Kansas Board of Regents system. While they stand by providing lip service, the state's universities are losing faculty members thereby diminishing the chances of Kansas meeting the economic challenges from neighboring states as well as the challenge to attract top-flight new faculty members and outstanding new students.
It's not a pleasant picture, and it's not likely to change unless the governor and state legislators exhibit some vision and political courage.
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