Posted on: Friday, August 23, 2002

Dobelle's pay ranking disputed

Associated Press

The University of Hawai'i is disputing a survey that concludes President Evan Dobelle is the fourth highest-paid public university president in the nation.

A Chronicle of Higher Education survey says Dobelle, who became president of the 10-campus system in July 2001, is set to get a $1.1 million bonus — on top of his previously reported $442,000 annual salary — if he completes his seven-year contract.

The Chronicle, in its Aug. 30 edition, said that would give Dobelle total annual compensation of $599,500 a year.

"They are getting this screwed up," Paul Costello, the university's vice president for external affairs, said yesterday.

Costello provided a copy of Dobelle's contract, which includes an "incentive fund." It calls for him to be paid added money if he is terminated without cause or if he is not offered an additional minimum term of three years at the end of seven.

If either of those conditions isn't met, Dobelle would not receive any money over and above his salary, Costello said.

Dobelle's annual salary of $442,000 does not rank in the top 10 in the Chronicle's survey of 131 chief executives of state research universities and public college systems. University of Texas President Mark G. Yudof topped the survey at $787,319 annually.