N O T I C E I N T H I S I S S U E This will be the last issue of the Some donors get more bang for University Times for the fall term. their buck by practicing “catalytic” philanthropy......................................7 Publication will resume on Jan. 6. The deadline for calendar events for Long-term staff will be honored today at a reception in that issue is Dec. 23. Alumni Hall. See who marked U N I V E R S I T Y employment anniversaries in TIMES 2010.............................................9-11 VOLUME 43 • NUMBER 8 DECEMBER 9, 2010 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH 2-year pay freeze ends for Pitt senior officers rustees this week increased the norms of the academic culture, the compensation of the metrics of the marketplace TChancellor Mark A. Nor- and financial circumstances that denberg and five other senior may exist at any particular time. officers for fiscal year 2011, ending ... The officers of the University a two-year salary freeze for the have continued to perform at very senior administrators. high levels, helping the University In a two-step process, the to meet a number of daunting Board of Trustees compensation challenges while maintaining its committee first awarded each enviable record of progress.” officer the 2.5 percent salary pool Tritch noted that salaries were maintenance component of the frozen for all employees, including 2009 fiscal year compensation senior officers, in fiscal year 2010. budget increase. While staff and He said the salary percentage Mary Jane Bent/CIDDE faculty received an increase that increases for the officers are in Holiday open house year, senior officers voluntarily line with the current fiscal year’s Dancers showed off native costumes in the Cathedral Commons Room Dec. 5 during the holiday agreed to frozen salaries, noted salary pool, which was 3 percent season’s Nationality Rooms open house event. Members of the 27 Nationality Rooms committees annually decorate their rooms in traditional committee chair Stephen R. (2 percent to be distributed for holiday adornment, displaying holiday customs from around the world, while tour guides adapt Tritch. (See University Times Dec. salary maintenance of employees their daily presentations to include descriptions of the many holiday traditions. Tickets for tours can be purchased at the Gift Shop on the first floor of the Cathedral of Learn- 4, 2008.) whose work performance during ing. That move effectively created FY10 was rated at least satisfactory The rooms will remain decorated until Jan. 14. For more information on tour times and tickets, a new fiscal year 2010 base salary and 1 percent for merit, market visit www.pitt.edu/~natrooms or call 412/624-6000. for each of the officers. According and equity adjustments). to the resolution passed by trustees Tritch said, “Average salary at a conference call meeting Dec. increases already awarded have State bond delay could affect Pitt projects 6, “This adjustment will result in exceeded the size of the salary tug of war over how much In light of tight state finances by Rendell last month, would no retroactive payments for fiscal increase pool, with an average to borrow to fund state that include projected general partially fund a $4.8 billion list year 2009 or fiscal year 2010 but faculty salary increase of 4.4 per- Acapital budget projects is fund deficits, treasurer Rob of public improvement proj- will increase each officer’s base for cent.” He further noted that as has continuing in Harrisburg. Three McCord is seeking input from ects, including three currently future salary increases.” been Nordenberg’s practice, “the Pitt projects are among those incoming governor Tom Corbett underway at Pitt, in addition to The trustees then approved chancellor has requested that any being paid for from the accounts before signing off on the deal. economic development and other raises on the new base salaries salary increase awarded to him be that, absent additional funding, McCord also is taking a close look projects across Pennsylvania. ranging from 3.2 percent to 4.9 the lowest percentage increase will start to run dry early next year. at the amount and the timing of the Pitt projects that are being percent. (See chart on page 3.) within the officer group and not Gov. Edward G. Rendell has proposed bond issue, a spokesper- reimbursed from the funds are Nordenberg’s salary for FY11 markedly exceed the general salary proposed a $1 billion bond issue son from his office said. Although Chevron Science Center, bud- was increased 3.2 percent on his increase pool.” that he wants to see approved discussions were continuing, as of geted for $25 million in state adjusted fiscal year 2010 base Pending further study, the before a federal interest subsidy press time Wednesday no agree- public improvement account salary, to $486,500. trustees committee also tabled program expires at the end of ment had been reached. capital funds; Benedum Hall, At Nordenberg’s recommen- the retention incentive program, December. However, the audi- The governor’s office argues budgeted for $69 million in state dation, officers’ adjusted FY10 which since 2002 has provided tor general and state treasurer that borrowing the money before funds, and Salk Hall, budgeted for salaries were increased as follows: bonuses to certain officers who are balking at signing off on the the end of the year would save $162 $50 million in state funds. For such • Jerome Cochran, executive remain in their jobs through a amount, which they say is unprec- million in interest; the treasurer’s projects, the University pays the vice chancellor, 3.7 percent to designated timeframe. edented for a bond that would be office is questioning the need bills then submits them to the state $412,500; Under the initial five-year plan, issued during a transition to a new for $1 billion now. That amount for reimbursement, said Joseph • B. Jean Ferketish, secretary to designed to encourage four mem- administration. would fund the capital accounts Fink, associate vice chancellor for the Board of Trustees and assistant bers of Pitt’s senior leadership According to the treasurer’s through June or July, according Facilities Management. chancellor, 4 percent to $202,500; team to remain at the University, office, during the past four changes to the governor’s office. A delay in issuing bonds to fund • Arthur S. Levine, senior vice trustees awarded Nordenberg in administration, bond issues that A $1 billion bond issue would these projects could impact cash chancellor for Health Sciences and $75,000 a year through June 30, took place within two months of raise debt service payments by flow on the projects by delaying dean of the School of Medicine, 2007, if he remained in his position the transition ranged from $208 $82 million a year through 2030. reimbursements, something Fink 3.5 percent to $745,000; through that date. Then-Provost million to $500 million, averaging q believes would be unprecedented. • Amy K. Marsh, treasurer, 3.7 James V. Maher, Cochran and $299 million. The borrowing, approved CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 percent to $340,000, and Ramicone each were awarded • Arthur G. Ramicone, vice bonuses of $50,000 per year under chancellor for Budget and Con- the same conditions. troller, 4.9 percent to $285,000. In December 2006, the com- Wannstedt out as coach Raises are retroactive to July 1, pensation committee voted to ead football coach Dave Wannstedt resigned this week after the beginning of fiscal year 2011. extend the retention pay plan on six seasons. Wannstedt compiled a 42-31 record that included (The FY11 salary of Pro- an annual basis. three postseason bowl berths. The Panthers are scheduled to vost Patricia E. Beeson, whose As explanation for the trustees’ Joe Kapelewski/CIDDE H play in the Jan. 8 BBVA Compass Bowl. appointment was effective Aug. current action, Tritch said, “In the Following last season’s 10-3 record, Wannstedt signed a contract 15, already had been set by the most recent study undertaken by extension to coach through 2014. This year the team was picked by Big trustees at $325,000.) the [committee’s compensation] East coaches to win the conference title outright but settled for a share Tritch, who also chairs the consultant, total compensation, of the title with a 5-2 record, 7-5 overall. The team also suffered some Board of Trustees, said, “One including annual retention incen- off-field problems, with four players arrested since the end of last season. important dimension of the tive payments, ranged from 14 Wannstedt will remain at Pitt as special assistant to athletics director board’s oversight and support percent to 28 percent below the Steve Pederson, who said a national search for a successor will begin responsibilities ... is to ensure that benchmark for the three officers immediately. the officers of the University are now participating in the program, —Peter Hart n fairly compensated — mindful of CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 1 U N I V E R S I T Y TIMES L E T T E R S Immoral use of newsprint Shopping To the editor: not have electronic access at home. It is with surprise that I read According to a recent survey con- for a cause in the Nov. 11 issue that Pitt has ducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, Shoppers peruse received a “B-” in their green 30 percent of U.S. households items at the Gradu- report card — surprise that it have no Internet access whatso- ate School of Public Health’s annual is so high when “D-” or “F” is ever. The hard-copy version of winter sale to better warranted! And why is that? the University Times means that benefit the Evelyn Because the University continues all University employees, with H.