By CAUT Staff

A recent study by ANSUT – the Association of Nova Scotia University Teachers – has uncovered rising administrative compensation at eight universities in the province over a 10-year period while faculty and staff have taken the brunt of cuts due to decreased tuition revenue during the pandemic. The study, A Culture of Entitlement: An Overview of Administrative Compensation at Eight Nova Scotia Universities 2011/12 – 2020/21, began in 2011 to track the compensation and quantity of senior and upper-level administration for the universities as compared to increases in faculty compensation and quantity, student/faculty ratios, student enrolment, and tuition fees over the same time. The study found that compensation for presidents rose 45 per cent over six years, in addition to bonuses and other incentives.

Using public disclosure reports, organization charts, online directories, contracts, FOIPOP data, and other publicly available resources, the data shows that spending on administrative positions rose eight per cent in ten years. Of this, the total spent on presidents’ salaries rose 41 per cent (not including bonuses), spending on vice-presidents’ salaries increased 76 per cent, spending on deans rose 86 per cent, directors and managers rose 88 per cent and 63 per cent respectively. Other positions, such as executive secretaries, university counsel, and registrars, rose 119 per cent in the past decade. Much of the rise can be attributed to an increase in the number of positions rather than a rise in pay.

The report reads: “When viewed together, and through the lens of the academic mission of most universities – to provide education, conduct research and contribute to the betterment of society – this data clearly illustrates the unreasonable gains that university leaders and senior administrators have received, as students, staff, and faculty struggle to keep up.”