OGDEN -- Weber State University President F. Ann Millner on Thursday announced she will donate her entire raise of more than $18,000 to Weber State University to be used for scholarships and other education-related programs.
"President Millner plans to donate her raise to Weber State University to support educational experiences," said John Kowalewski, WSU spokesman.
"Her gift will support scholarships, fellowships, programs and other educational opportunities. That's very consistent with her record of philanthropy at WSU and her ongoing commitment to students and education."
The raise was awarded last Friday by the Utah Board of Regents, which increased the salaries for presidents of all eight Utah state universities and colleges.
The board's goal is make salaries more comparable to those offered to university presidents at schools outside of Utah.
Applicants are currently being sought for the top position at the University of Utah, the largest university in the state system. The revised salary for that position, $360,000, is likely to draw a larger pool of qualified applicants.
A letter released by the Board of Regents stated: "One of the key responsibilities of the State Board of Regents is to recruit and retain qualified and capable leaders as presidents of the eight institutions of higher education. ...
"One of the tools the Board has to attract, retain, and ensure quality presidential leadership is to provide for competitive compensation. It has come to the attention of the Board that presidential compensation in Utah at all institutions has fallen further behind peer institutions over the past several years."
The Board of Regents letter said that, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education, Utah ranks far below the mean of $412,981 for salaries of presidents at public research institutions.
The letter also stated that, following further research, another round of salary adjustments is scheduled for May.
Raises awarded Friday by the regents ranged from 12 percent to 2.8 percent.
Millner's new pay is $210,000. The Weber State University president was given a 9.5 percent raise, the second-largest percent range after that given to the Dixie State College president.
Holly Braithwaite, communications director for the Utah System of Higher Education, said the regents based salary increases on the salaries paid to presidents of comparable institutions.
Among the universities considered comparable to Weber State are Boise State University, University of Northern Florida and University of Northern Iowa, Braithwaite said, although she didn't know if those were among the specific schools used for salary comparison.
Millner is known for her quiet philanthropic activities. Weber State University magazine this year printed her name on a list of WSU donors who had given between $100,000 and $299,000 to the university.
Millner celebrates her 10th year as Weber State president in October. Her tenure makes her the longest-serving current president who has worked at the same institution. In various capacities, Millner has worked at Weber State University for 29 years.
After the regents' decision last week, several state university presidents pledged that some or all of their salary increase would be donated to their universities.
Utah State University President Stan Albrecht promised his 4 percent raise, close to $11,400, to the Aggie Promise Scholarship fund. University of Utah interim President Lorris Betz said his raise of close to $11,600 will go to a U of U health sciences scholarship fund.
Utah Valley University President Matthew Holland will use his raise to create a new scholarship for low- income students who hope to become teachers, his spokesman said.
Snow College President Scott Wyatt said he will not accept the raise until the Utah Legislature approves the school's budget request for staff and faculty salary increases.
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