Moeser Declines Bonus Offered to 12 Chancellors

Posted on Feb. 5, 2004

Chancellor James Moeser in January declined a potential bonus of as much as $30,000 offered to him by UNC System President Molly Broad, citing a need to “stand with the troops” during tough financial times.

Twelve system chancellors were eligible for the one-time bonuses of 8 to 12 percent, approved by the Board of Governors in the fall. Moeser was the only one to reject his. Marye Ann Fox, chancellor of N.C. State University, said she would donate her 10 percent bonus of $24,822 to N.C. State’s fund-raising campaign, and John Bardo, Western Carolina University’s chancellor, said he would use his bonus money to create a $10,000 endowed scholarship fund to benefit children and grandchildren of Western Carolina’s employees.

The bonuses ranged from $12,101 for Mickey Burnim at Elizabeth City State University to $25,599 for James Woodward of UNC-Charlotte.

Considering Moeser’s current salary of $255,625, his bonus could have ranged from $20,450 to $30,675.

Broad said the bonuses were offered to chancellors not only to thank them for their service but also in an attempt to retain the chancellors, as other universities might try to lure them with higher salaries.

The bonuses were offered to chancellors who had been in office for at least two years as of July 1, 2003. Chancellors have received no salary increases or bonuses since the 2000-01 school year, when state employees received bonuses of $625.

Joni Worthington ’83, UNC System associate vice president for communications, said Moeser informed the BOG in the fall that if he were offered a bonus he would not accept it.

“Many of us question the decisions of University System President Molly Broad in giving substantial bonuses (amounting to more than the yearly pay of some of our employees) to campus chancellors in times like these,” UNC Faculty Chair Judith Wegner wrote in a letter to The Daily Tar Heel. “We should be proud of the decision of Chancellor Moeser . to forego such a bonus as a matter of principle when faculty and staff have received no such largesse. His decision last fall is even more timely now, when large tuition increases are being imposed on students.”

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