President Perry’s salary is at a lower standing than other universities in Illinois.

Perry currently makes a total annual salary of $267,800, which includes $32,289 for housing. Last year, his total annual salary was $260,000.

The Chronicle of Higher Education released a report that included the salaries of presidents at seven, four-year Illinois public institutions.

The seven institutions from Illinois included Illinois State University, Northern Illinois University, Southern Illinois University, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and University of Illinois system.

Eastern was excluded from the report, as was Western Illinois University, Governor’s State University, Northeastern University and Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.

Of those in the report, total annual salaries include John G. Peters of NIU makes $417,321, Eric A. Gislason of UIC makes $275,000, Richard Herman UIUC makes $427,5000 and Alvin Bowman, Jr., of ISU makes $340,980.

The board of trustees determines the president’s salary.

Robert Webb, a board of trustees member, served as chairman of the search committee when the university was hiring Perry.

He said a number of factors are considered when a national search is going on to be competitive with the salary nationally.

Webb said there are usually 20 to 30 presidential spots open at any time, and those universities are all trying to find the best candidate, too.

Webb said the board compared salaries of other state universities.

He said the board used Eastern, ISU, Northeastern, NIU and SIUE to compare prices because they have similar missions and enrollments.

Webb said they try and hit the median of those universities.

“The salary President Perry came in at was somewhat below average of the salaries of the presidents at the time,” Webb said.

At the time of Perry’s hiring, his salary was approximately $230,000, excluding housing.

SIUE had the lowest salary for its president at $211,000, Webb said. NIU had the highest at $295,000.

“As you can see, his salary would have been in the bottom third of that,” Webb said.

The board also looks at what the candidates make in their current positions.

“Many won’t move without an increase of salary,” Webb said.

Experience and background of the candidate is also looked at, he said.

“Do they have several years of experience in administration and higher education or do they not?” Webb said.

Finally, the board also looks at what universities can afford to pay, he said.

Perry’s salary received a 3 percent increase, which is the standard increase percentage that all Academic Professionals and Civil Service received this year, according to Eastern’s Budget Office.

Webb said Perry would not accept any other increase in salary even though the board has offered a higher salary.

“It’s his belief that the president, in a time of limited resources, ought not be treated any differently.than the academic staff,” Webb said. “All university presidents don’t follow that practice.”

In an article from the Nov. 21 issue of The Chronicle of Education, it was reported that the price of public university presidents continues to rise.

According to the Chronicle’s latest survey of executive compensation, median pay and benefits rose 7.6 percent in 2007-08, to $427,400 for 184 public research universities.

Webb said Perry’s salary did not rise as much, which would be why his rank has changed and would be lower than other universities.

Emily Zulz can be reached at 581-7942 or at eazulz@eiu.edu.