A Tale of Two Price Hikes: His Salary, Their Tuition

Two months after he was named the new president of San Diego State University and before he even gets a chance to settle in as Stephen Weber’s replacement, Elliot Hirshman finds himself smack in the middle of a compensation controversy. 

The California State Board of Trustees is set to vote this week on whether to pay Hirshman $100,000 more per year than his predecessor.

If approved, Hirshman would earn $400,000 annually. 

When you take into consideration that a recent study by the chancellor found Cal State presidents are underpaid compared to peers, receiving 52-percent of the pay of chief executives at similar institutions, the jump may seem reasonable.

However, timing is everything.

The vote on Tuesday comes the same day the board considers a 12% tuition hike for students.

Let us know what you think. Comment below, send us your thoughts via Twitter @PropZero or add your comment to our Facebook page.

Contact Us