University of Iowa’s Robillard ranks No. 9 in executive pay

IOWA CITY - University of Iowa Vice President for Medical Affairs Jean Robillard, who at no additional salary took on the extra duties of being interim UI president for part of 2015, nonetheless was among the nation's 10 highest paid public or private university executives, the Chronicle of Higher Education said this week.

Robillard, who continued as a vice president for UI Health Care while stepping in as interim UI president from July to November 2015, earned the ninth spot on the Chronicle's ranking. His $929,045 salary included base pay of $741,260 and a bonus of $187,785 tied to hospital performance.

After UI President Bruce Harreld came on board in November 2015, Robillard returned his focus to UI Health Care. Months later, he took on additional duties as dean of the UI Carver College of Medicine - also at no additional salary.

Robillard, whose current base pay stands at $757,569, in September announced plans to retire when the university hires a successor. The search for his replacement is underway.

Robillard's inclusion among the Chronicle's top 10 higher education executives highlights the reality that university presidents aren't always the top earners at their institutions. The report also provides insight into how schools stack up nationally and how private leaders are paid - as that information often isn't publicized.

Among Iowa's presidents on the list, Harreld made the most in the 2015-16 term at $590,000, placing him at No. 62 out of 239. Former Iowa State University President Steven Leath, who recently resigned to become president of Auburn University, came in at No. 71 for his $567,971 total.

Leath's base pay was $525,000 at the time he left, and he forfeited $1.2 million in deferred compensation when he quit.

The Chronicle, in compiling its data, assessed pay for more than 1,200 chief executives at more than 600 private colleges from 2008 to 2014, and at nearly 250 public universities and systems from 2010 to 2016.

Public college information is based on fiscal year, typically between July 1 and June 30. Private college data, collected through publicly available tax forms, is based on calendar year.

The Chronicle reported average pay of public college leaders in 2016 at $464,180, putting two of Iowa's three above the average. The University of Northern Iowa pays its president about $357,110.

Still, with budgets tight across the regents system, university presidents have gone several years without raises.

Although some private universities cite religious exemption from filing 990 tax forms, many of Iowa's private college heads made the list:

* Former Drake University President David Maxwell, who left in 2015, made $747,113 in 2014;

* Grinnell College

's Raynard Kington made $616,212 in 2014;

* Cornell College

's Jonathan Brand made $349,325 in 2014;

* Coe College

's David McInally made $343,850 in 2014;

* Luther College

's former President Richard Torgerson made $322,389 in 2013; successor Paula Carlson made $154,313 for part of 2014;

* Wartburg College

's Darrel Colson made $263,935 in 2014;

* Buena Vista

's Frederick Moore made $256,736 in 2014;

* Loras College

's James E. Collins made $254,168 in 2010, the most recent data available;

* Central College

's Mark Putnam made $249,235 in 2014;

* Clarke University

's Joanne Burrows made $229,238 in 2011, the most recent data available;

* Northwestern College

's Greg Christy made $229,105 in 2014;

* Mount Mercy University

- not included in the Chronicle analysis - paid President Laurie Hamen $250,000 in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Her salary went up this year to $258,000, spokeswoman Amanda Mayotte said.

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