U of M president declines raise amid calls for university to up minimum wage to $15

University of Memphis President M. David Rudd says he will not accept a salary increase this year, according to an email sent to the campus community and shared with The Commercial Appeal. 

After discussions at a Sept. 4 quarterly board meeting, Rudd was expected to sign a new contract for $525,000.

“After considerable thought, I have decided not to accept a salary increase this year. I appreciate the thoughtfulness, support and offer from our Board of Trustees, but ultimately believe it in the best interest of the institution to forgo any salary increase at this time,” the email said. “Overall institutional efficiency has been at the forefront of my agenda from the day I started, a value I firmly believe and will continue to live. Thank you for your hard work on behalf of our students, University, and community.”

Rudd, 58, is currently under the terms of an employment agreement with the university. He earns a base salary of $394,075, according to the university’s compensation database.

Minimum wage:Rudd tweeted U of M had a 'definitive plan' to pay $15 an hour. Records show no sign of one.

Contract proposal:The $525,000 contract would have given Rudd a 33 percent salary increase

Rudd, 58, is declining the contract as the university faces calls for a raise to its minimum wage. Rudd said a "definitive plan" was in place for a $15 per hour minimum wage for employees of the state college within two years, but a recent review by The Commercial Appeal found no record of a such a plan.

U of M hired Sibson Consulting to assess Rudd’s compensation, with the understanding the university would like to obtain the highest doctoral research Carnegie Classification — and that Rudd’s retention over the next decade is critical to achieving such institutional goals, according to the presentation.

In its evaluation, the group used a base salary for Rudd of $428,797, an approximate figure higher than the base pay currently reported by the university. A footnote in the presentation said this figure reflects that Rudd's compensation is supplemented through private funding. Per discussions with the university, the footnote said, current payouts include some earnings "that were not distributed on time." For the purpose of the Sibson analysis, the footnote said, the average of these supplemental payments over 2017-2019 "were used to approximate annual supplemental compensation."

Two days after the board meeting announcing the proposed contract, students with the Memphis Young Democratic Socialists called for Rudd to forfeit his raise and insist that all campus workers earn a $15 per hour wage, according to a Facebook post. 

Later on Sept. 6, the group shared an event for protesting Rudd's proposed salary increase and for calling for a "living wage" for all workers and for no tuition hikes. 

The chairman for Memphis Young Democratic Socialist, Tre Black, said the group, along with the United Campus Workers, still plans to protest Friday from 1:30-4 p.m. in the "free speech zone" at the Student Plaza, which is near the Fountain Area behind the University Center.

Rudd has held his positions as president of the university since May 2014. Under his leadership, the University of Memphis has increased enrollment and fundraising efforts and made strides in retention and graduation rates.

Laura Testino covers education and children's issues for the Commercial Appeal. Reach her at laura.testino@commercialappeal.com or 901-512-3763. Find her on Twitter: @LDTestino