New CSU leaders to earn less than CU counterparts

After weeks of controversy and a heated lawsuit surrounding his selection process, former Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce President Joe Blake was confirmed Wednesday as Chancellor of the Colorado State University system. Blake will be paid $275,000 annually, significantly less than his peers at the University of Colorado, while other details of his contract are still being finalized.

Blake, along with newly appointed Fort Collins campus President Tony Frank, were both awarded five-year contracts with CSU. Frank's contract is worth $350,000 per year, 20 percent more than Blake, but he brings 16 years of relevant experience at CSU to the table. Previously, Larry Penley served as both the president and chancellor of CSU, earning $389,000 per year, before stepping down last November.

Blake's salary is notably less than his peers at the University of Colorado. CSU and CU use different terminology to describe system leadership. CSU's chancellor position is akin to that of president at CU, with responsibility for overseeing campus administrators. CU President Bruce Benson's salary is $378,000 annually, over $100,000 more than Blake.

As previously reported by Face The State, UC Denver Chancellor Roy Wilson, MD earns over $750,000 annually, while newly appointed Boulder Chancellor Philip DiStefano earns $340,000 per year in addition to a campus residence. Frank's contract is similar in salary to DiStefano's, but while both CU Chancellors receive $10,000 each year for a car allowance, Frank will get $42,000 on top of his base salary for a car and housing, bringing his total compensation to at least $392,000.

While Blake and Frank's salaries may not be as cushy as all of their CU counterparts, CSU's budget is only a fraction of the state's flagship school. Boulder Regents recently approved a $2.6 billion budget and CSU officials signed off on $872 million for fiscal year 2010.