This past week, trustees at Cleveland State University announced a separation agreement with University President Harlan Sands. Sands, who has been at the university since 2018, will be paid $928,000 to step down from his position.
According to news accounts, the trustees’ decision to replace Sands was based on “differences regarding how the university should be led in the future.” That sounds like the person who leaves a good job to “spend more time with his family” or the other classic “has decided to do some consulting.” Obviously, there is another side to this story. If Sands were lower down the totem pole, most people would say he got the boot.
News accounts further reveal that Sands will stay on at his current salary of $569,589 until June 26 with no formal duties. That amounts to $10,953 a week or $47,465 a month. As a bonus, he has until September 5 to vacate the President’s residence and the university will pick up the tab for his moving expenses.
He will also be offered a job as a full-tenured professor at the College of Law. That position will pay 75% of his current salary, or $348,000. With that salary I’m sure that he will receive a rather icy welcome to faculty meetings since his salary will be just about three times that of the average law professor. His salary will also be greater than that of the dean.
Sands, who got his MBA and JD degrees while serving an 11-year stint in the U.S. Navy, has not done any lawyering since joining academia several decades ago. He last functioned as a lawyer when he served as an assistant public defender in Miami. It will be interesting to see what classes he will teach.
The University of Akron is current paying two former presidents, Luis Proenza and Scott Scarborough, a combined salary of $620,000 to serve as faculty after they exited the president’s office. Former CSU President Ronald Berkman stepped down in 2018 after a vote of no confidence by the Faculty Senate in 2017 and criticism over his failure to condemn a homophobic flyer circulated on campus. He is currently a tenured professor in the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs making an annual salary of $337,500. Which proves that once you get to be a university president you have a lifetime no-cut contract. If I knew years ago what I know now, being a college president would have been at the top of my career goals.
From 1983 to 1991 Ohio lived though one of those rare moments in history when it had a Democratic governor. I had the good fortune of being best friends with the president of the Wood County Democratic Party, where Bowling Green is located. With those two stars aligned, coupled with a dearth of minority and female representation, I was named to a nine-year term as a member of the board of trustees of Bowling Green State University in 1989. It was one of the best experiences of my life — something that I am proud to put on my resume.
I eventually worked my way up to being President of the Board and had the honor of serving as chairperson of the search committee that selected the university’s president in 1995. I also learned a heck of a lot about the perks of being a college president.
What most people don’t understand is that as president, your basic expenses are paid by the university. You live in housing provided by the university. You get a car, cell phone and a budget for travel and entertaining. Other than expenses incurred by your family, probably the most expensive expenditure is a wardrobe that is consistent with the university’s colors. Everything else is paid for. Some colleges even create a “make work” for the president’s spouse.
As millions of Americans struggle to pay off student loans and parents try to figure out how they will be able to finance a college education for their children, it is disheartening to see university trustees, especially at an urban/commuter/essentially blue-collar school like Cleveland State, act as if they were dealing with monopoly money.
Since Republicans have been in the governor’s office for the last 11 years, I’m sure no Democrat has been appointed to any state university board of trustees in past 11 years. One of the unspoken requirements for the appointment is that you are a member of the same party as the governor. So, this is one case where you can’t blame the Democrats for lavish spending.
In 2014 I was asked to serve on the Cleveland State University Foundation Board. When I complained about President Berkman’s spending $9,500 for a charter flight to Columbus at the foundation’s expense my complaints fell on deaf ears. Having been a generous benefactor of the CSU Foundation, I resigned and took my money and my time and moved on. That was probably a wise move since I’m sure that I would not have been reappointed. I asked too many questions.
With two degrees from CSU — a J.D. and masters — one of which was paid for by the sweat of my dad’s brow, and the other one out of my own pocket, I believe that I am entitled to voice my concern.
Paying off university presidents who don’t work out for whatever reason is bad business. The university board selected Sands and even voted last year to extend his contract until 2026. Apparently, within the last few months the trustees decided that their vision of the university and that of President Sands did not jibe. It was time for Sands to be traded in for a new model.
The trustees immediately appointed Provost Dr. Laura Bloomberg as the university’s 9th president. At least by making an appointment from within, they saved the cost of a new presidential search, which is usually more than $150,000.
If the CSU board of trustees were board members of a for-profit corporation who answered to shareholders, I wonder if they would be so generous, especially when their decisions affect someone else’s wallet and their continued presence on the board.
Sands got more than a golden parachute — it was more like hitting the lottery.
The next time I get a solicitation from Cleveland State University for one of their alumni giving campaigns, I’m going to have to think long and hard about writing a check. My checkbook has limits. That of the trustees of Cleveland State apparently does not.
C. Ellen Connally is a retired judge of the Cleveland Municipal Court. From 2010 to 2014 she served as the President of the Cuyahoga County Council. An avid reader and student of American history, she serves on the Board of the Ohio History Connection, is currently vice president of the Cuyahoga County Soldiers and Sailors Monument Commission and past president of the Cleveland Civil War Round Table. She holds degrees from BGSU, CSU and is all but dissertation for a PhD from the University of Akron.
11 Responses to “COMMENTARY: The College President Hustle by C. Ellen Connally”
Thomas Simiele
Unbelievable!
Perhaps the University Trustees should pay these “minor” expenses incurred because of the failure of the Trustees to hire an appropriate or better qualified President in the first instance.
Delores Gray
Why ?
Dont University or Colleges realize that the students debit is greater then there degree they received.
They have there dreams job accomplished there goal now have to paid off there school debtors for there school loan.
Wow things are so backwards.
Mel Maurer
Thank you for this. I was hoping you would comment on this very sorry situation with ridiculous payments to failures. It won’t change, as you suggest, until we hit them where it hurts by withholding donations.
Jim Sammon
Thanks for the insight Judge. Sadly, it’s this type of nonsense that makes it so hard to raise needed funds for scholarships to the very students that these fools are supposed to be educating. The hypocrisy and idiocy of our society knows no bounds. Why would anyone want to give their own hard earned when so much is actually wasted. the past two CSU Presidents have done nothing but move up from Florida International to pad their retirement accounts.
Karen Hammon
As a 2 degree holder from CSU, I am appalled at the cost to get rid of someone who clearly wasn’t doing a good job and am sure there is way, way more to the true story, which we will never know the truth.
Judith hauser
Is that really the reason this person is being replaces? Something sounds fishy here-the board gave him a 5 year contract just last year. Need more info…
Katie Carney
Here’s an update on hefty salaries for former presidents at the University of Akron. Interestingly, a University of Akron foundation stepped up to buy out Dr. Luis Proenza. https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/2020/10/13/luis-proenza-retire-ending-university-akron-contract-early-owed-him-millions/3645051001/
Karen White
As a Board Member of the CSU Foundation, and Chair of the Foundation’s Development Committee, I feel obliged to comment. I am extremely proud to serve the CSU student community as a member of the Foundation board. The CSU Foundation board is a volunteer board, not appointed by the Governor. The Foundation manages an endowment – a collection of hundreds of individually named funds that are prudently invested for growth, the proceeds of which are distributed for scholarships and support of programs. The Foundation is making a difference in the lives of students in-need and raises funds to support CSU’s academic and research enterprise. CSU Foundation supports programming to wrap around students and help them throughout their college experience. Precious funds from private donors are contributing to everything from the summer enrichment program, which prepares students for college, to emergency funds provided through Lift Up Vikes!, a Tuition Promise to incoming Freshman, and last-mile scholarships that ensure students can graduate. Eighty percent of CSU graduates choose to live, work and raise families in Northeast Ohio. The successful future of these students, will equate to the successful future of our northeast Ohio community. Judge Connally, your alumni gifts are precious to CSU Foundation and to its students. I hope with the next solicitation, you, and others will continue to focus on all the good that is happening for the students of CSU and will write that check as proud alumni of the Institution. Thank you for all you have done for CSU and for this community.
Robert A Falkner
Having met President Sands on several occasions, I found him to be most pleasant and, seemingly, on top of what was going on at CSU. They give him a contract extension and then, poof, decide to fire him? Who did he tick off???
Gina Huffman
Excellent analysis, judge! Well I guess since the magnificent 7 have retired, CM law school is flush with cash-now- and can pay Sands. Maybe CM Leadership thinks Sands will bring more prospective students and scholarship dollars, which continues to be a struggle over there. The baggage continues to pile up. I hope better days are ahead for the law school.
Grafton Nunes
You are describing public university presidents, not all college presidents. I am president of a private college in Cleveland. I did not get a residence or a car or a travel budget. And I make considerably less than the salaries described in your article. I suspect one reason for those buyouts regards contracts. There are contracted obligations that must be met. Buying out the contract is cheaper than litigation.