With five chancellor searches currently going on in the UW System, speculation is rising about which administrators might leave top posts at other campuses.
University of Wisconsin-Stout Chancellor Charles Sorensen said he has been approached multiple times since 2000.
He said he was a candidate for chancellor several times at other schools, and an inability to offer administrators attractive salaries can be a problem when recruiting for specialized schools, such as UW-Stout.
Chancellors from the Whitewater, Green Bay and River Falls campuses all said the lack of competitive salaries or benefits packages was partially why they left Wisconsin.
Not being able to offer potential chancellors certain incentives, such as free tuition for their children, can also be a disadvantage.
There are benefits that other states offer that we don't that aren't salary, but they do lure people away,"" Sorensen said.
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow said he has not been offered other positions partially because he has only been chancellor for 15 months.
Concern about low salaries and compensation packages have stirred questions of a decline in support for the UW System in the state Legislature. Gow said increasing universities' tuition could solve the problem, but administrators have been reluctant to raise the fees.
""It becomes quite challenging to have the resources you need to keep up the quality,"" Gow said.
Low pay scales might also be a symptom of a broader problem, according to UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Carlos Santiago.
""Unless the overall compensation issue is addressed - for chancellors, professors and others - Wisconsin will continue to lose excellent leaders and educators,"" Santiago said in a statement.
Stephen Ward, spokesperson at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, also said a lack of competitive salaries and large compensation packages likely leads other schools to draw talented administrators from the state.
In order to increase state funding, Ward said, the UW System must promote the importance of higher education as an investment in the state's economy and future.
""The challenge is to be sure that our lawmakers understand the role higher education must play in the state's economy,"" Ward said.
Although five chancellor searches occurring at once might appear to destabilize administration across campuses, UW System spokesperson David Giroux said replacing the chancellors is not surprising, and is a sign of their talent and success during their term.
""When we are able to achieve success in [administration], other people come knocking and other people come luring away our lead talent,"" Giroux said.
According to Giroux, all UW System faculty salaries are typically slightly below average, and offers from other institutions with more competitive salaries can lure faculty and administrators to other institutions.
He also said while salaries might be competitive at times in the UW System, other schools can often offer additional benefits - like retirement packages or performance bonuses - to attract candidates for executive positions.
Although five current chancellor searches did not set a UW System record, Giroux said the system is attempting to increase chancellor salaries to match ""what the market is currently offering.""
