Presidential salary set at $165,000

The contract for MHCC’s extended interim president has revealed him to be among the top five highest paid community college presidents in Oregon, according to the 2011-12 Oregon Community College President Compensation Survey.

MHCC Interim President Michael Hay is to be paid a monthly salary of $13,750 ($165,000 annually) based on a 260-day work year starting Jan. 1 until June 30, 2012.

Beginning on July 1, 2012 and continuing until changed by the board, compensation will be $14,167.

At the time of his presidency, John Sygielski had a salary of $177,635.
The highest paid president in Oregon is Portland Community College President Preston Pulliam who, according to an email from PCC Human Resources Systems Development Manager Julie Kinney, has a salary of $215,922.

Under contract Hay is also allowed $700 a month for automobile expenses, including gas, insurance, and leasing costs. He is also allowed reimbursement of up to $600 a month for general expenses, defined as “all necessary and reasonable expenses.” A summary of these expenses is available from the board of education. In addition, Hay is allowed reimbursement for membership to a health club and to one local rotary club.

In the employment contract under term, referring to the length of his term as interim president, it says Hay’s contract will extend until June 30, 2013, unless extended, modified or terminated.

Hay said of his contract extension, “I was dubbed the interim president. Now I’m the actual president. I’ve always felt I was the president.”
Hay also said he is good at transitional leadership and he isn’t just a caretaker. He said he is pleased with how things are going and wants to continue focus on the development of Allied Health.

He said one of the major challenges here on campus is to deal with limited budget problems while trying to expand. He said he wants MHCC’s vital programs to be interesting.

“While walking around campus, I was observing the P.E. areas, the Visual Arts Gallery and the theater. We (MHCC) have a tremendous allowance for arts and recreation on campus and I want to use that to revitalize our brand,” said Hay.

Hay has a two-year contract. But with a history in private industry, Hay said his mentality is that it doesn’t matter the length of his contract because if the board isn’t happy with the job he is doing, he’ll have to move on. So in his current position, he said he will do his best.

In response to an editorial in the Jan. 13 edition of The Advocate, Hay said, “The board actively talked about my position twice in public discussion. Anyone paying attention would have recognized the decision.  The action of extending my contract just confirmed what they said they were already going to do. The contract was a technical detail and they had already communicated that (extending his contract) was the intention.”

Advocate Staff