A couple weeks ago we learned that Athletic Director Ron Guenther and basketball coach Lon Kruger will be getting sizable raises. Guenther's salary will rise from $190,000 to $225,000 annually, an 18.4 percent increase, and Kruger's total compensation package will rise to $750,000, a 14.7 percent increase. The reasons given for the raises? The pay is "not out of line" with people in comparable positions in the Big Ten. Guenther is "very deserving" and has done "an extraordinary job."
Academic professionals will be happy to see some of our salaries being brought into line with those at other institutions, and to see some academic professionals receiving substantial raises based on superior job evaluations. This gives us all reason to expect similar treatment in the near future.
Or am I missing something here?