Keene State College executive officers received a lump sum payment of a combined $197,161 through the at-risk pay’ program in fiscal year 2023 (FY23)
The Equinox obtained the payments for the program through an open-records request.
The ‘at risk pay’ program incentives the executive officers of KSC to hit specific goals and metrics throughout the fiscal year based on the current market for that position, which is compared to other public liberal arts schools of a similar size, President Melinda Treadwell said.
While it can be perceived as a bonus, in actuality it is a percentage of their salary, she said.
Treadwell explained a percentage of their base pay, based on the market, is brought down. The ‘at-risk’ pay is the leftover percentage that brings an officer to the market value for that position.
“If you miss your targets, you don’t get it,” Treadwell said. “That’s how they drive performance management.”
The Equinox previously reported that executive officers received approximately $180,000 during FY22
Treadwell largely calculates these payments, with hers being determined by the University System of New Hampshire (USNH) Board of Trustees.
According to the request record, Treadwell received $68,781, an increase of $22,000.
On the amount Treadwell received she said, “I think it’s obscene, the amount of salary.”
She said she gives back roughly 15-20% back to the college to reinvest. Additionally, the other executive officers do the same.
The second-highest amount was disbursed to MB Lufkin, vice president for enrollment and student engagement. She received $31,583, also an increase from last year.
Other executive officers saw either slight increases or decreases in the amount disbursed. However, Dottie Morris, associate vice president for diversity and inclusion, saw the second largest increase in at-risk pay,’ with $20,098 disbursed compared to last year’s $13,652.
Treadwell said the market is reevaluated every two years, this round of ‘at-risk pay’ saw a market reevaluation, which with the performance-based metrics officers need to hit, can cause increases or decreases in the amount received.
Additionally, Treadwell noted faculty and staff received a base pay increase of 2%, unless they were new employees and it was factored into their salary when they were hired.
Tim Bruns can be contacted at
tbruns@kscequinox.com
