A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M
N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Next Page

Includes 459 schools as of 2/2003

     In the Spring 1997 issue, Student Leader included a short article listing the salaries of SG officers at six schools nationwide. That short feature has since set off a groundswell of interest from readers and national media such as USA Today, U.S. News & World Report, and The Chronicle of Higher Education as well as dozens of campus newspapers nationwide.
      The responses of elected student leaders and student affairs professionals from all 173 schools that participated in the original 1997 study are available, as are responses from additional schools (designated with a ) that completed the survey after our Fall 1997 Student Leader publication deadline. As of 2/2003, 459 institutions nationwide have participated.
      If you're mulling "The Great SG Pay Debate," these results and analysis that appeared in our Fall 2001 and Fall 1997 issues will tell you which schools pay, which don't, and why, at all types of colleges and universities nationwide. We've interviewed dozens of campus leaders and student-affairs professionals about the pro's and con's of paying elected officers.

Adelphi University, New York
Type: private college
Enrollment: 2,500 (,3000—Jaafar)
Name of SG: Student Government Association
SG’s annual budget: $118,000 per semester
Compensation:
Carpenzano
     "Adelphi University is going through a transition and the demands on student leaders (even during vacation/summer), were excessive. In addition, we are doing the jobs, minus an executive board member, plus incredible student apathy. Recently, we were able to obtain half of a housing grant for this semester, which is $1,125.00.
     "Last semester, every resident member of the Executive Board received a partial housing grant, which as $1,500 for the $3,000 that housing costs each semester. This pertained to the president, executive vice president, and the treasurer. However, the interim dean of students had not intended on this to be a continuous grant and the cabinet is no longer receiving them.
     "Aside from each member's personal financial aid packages, no SGA awards are granted to the members of the cabinet.
     "In compliance with the Standard Financial Operating Procedures, every SGA funded organization is entitled to one conference per semester. These conferences must be in accordance with the club's constitutional mission statement. The SGA cabinet, in the past, has attended leadership conferences such as NACA, at Ithaca College in new York, and in Orlando, Florida. The November, the cabinet has invited the presidents of each class government to attend the conference in Washington, D.C.
"The SGA does have an office. However, it is inadequate in its space and resources."
Jaafar
     “There is a student government office with two computers, a copier, and other office supplies. We also receive free travel and entry to leadership conferences.”
Source: Liana Carpenzano, SGA treasurer, responded by mail on 7/27/98 and by e-mail on 10/19/98; Nadia M. Jaafar, vice president, responded by web on 5/15/01
Carpenzano
     "Cash salaries can get a little 'sticky.' However, student leaders who go above and beyond should be compensated. Many times, our responsibility as student leaders affects personal time, our jobs, and our academic responsibilities. I mean, the president of the United States is a great leader, but he needs to eat too.
     "I do not think that regular club officers should be paid. Like I said before, sometimes administration and faculty forget that SGA are students too, and not just full-time leaders. Some kind of compensation is helpful to repay the extra time that students leader give up to selflessly represent student concerns."
Jaafar
     “Yes! Student leaders do a lot of work on their campus—work that very few people want to do. They should be given some sort of reward for all that dedication.
     “I think a scholarship is the best way to go. That way it makes it a lot easier for the student to stay at the school and offer incentive to keep their grades up.”

Alaska Pacific University, AK
Type: private
Enrollment: 653
Name of SG: Association of Students
SG’s annual budget: "Our budget funds all school activities from Outdoor Programs, clubs/organizations, to student organized events. Our budget total is about $44,000 a year."
Compensation:
     "Our SGOs [Student Government Officers] earn anywhere from $900.00 a year to $3,000 a year as a leadership award which reduces tuition costs."
Source: Cotty M. Parks, AS student representative, responded by web on 11/15/00
     "Yes. Not only are SGOs available during regular office hours, we also attend various meetings outside the school day and year to assist our student body.
     "No, it’s not wrong. We are required to do a minimum amount of time in the office along with volunteering our time."

Albany State University, GA
Type: public
Enrollment: 3,100
Name of SG: Student Government Association
SG's annual budget: $20,000
Compensation:
president — $300 month salary, plus free parking pass for the year
vice president — $250 month
secretary — $175 to $200 month
Source: Debra Moore, acting director or student services, and Gwinetta Brown, student activities director, responded by phone on 7/16/97

Allegheny College, PA
Type: private
Enrollment: 1,777
Name of SG: Allegheny Student Government
SG's annual budget: $140,000 ($115,000 goes to groups)
Compensation: none
Source: Phil Foxman, director of student activities, responded by phone on 7/24/97 and 10/27/97

Amarillo College, TX
Type: community college
Enrollment: 6,550
Name of SG: Student Government Association
SG's annual budget: $65,000
Compensation:
president — work-study job (20 hours week at minimum wage, receives paycheck)
other officers — $100 per semester (stipend)
perks — first shot at Student Government Scholarship
Source: Heather Jackson, SGA program chair, responded by mail on 9/29/97
     "Student Government officers should get paid. These leaders sacrifice 99 percent of their free time, which includes time others spend working on the job. Without some financial support, SGA would lose otherwise dedicated leaders."
     "Officers are volunteers regardless of compensation. The minimal dollars earned do not fully compare to the executive board's long hours of commitment and dedication."

American International College, Mass.
Type: private college
Enrollment: 1,700
Name of SG: American International College Student Government
SG’s annual budget: $35 to $40,000, Student Activities— $25 to $30,000
Compensation:
     “We, the executive board, get a tuition break. We do get into ?? free like semi formals, etc., because we are expected to go.”
Source: Candace O. Shivers, SG president, responded by mail on 3/2/98
     “Yes. At our school, we run the ins and outs of campus life. We are in charge of most of the activities that are for the students. It is a job. I spend so much time in SG that we are think about getting a bed up in our office. We already have a TV and a radio.
     “No, I do not think it is wrong to pay SG, club, or organization officers.”

American River College, CA
Type: community college
Enrollment: 21,167
Name of SG: Student Association
SG's annual budget: ???
Compensation:
no salary
president does receive a preferred parking space (which is still paid for by student)
Source: Nicole Trudeau, SA president, responded by phone

Anne Arundel Community College, MD
Type: community college
Enrollment: 18,000
Name of SG: Student Association
SG's annual budget: $215,000
Compensation:
     "The president gets $6 per hour for 20 hours per week. The total for the year is $5,760 [was $4,720 in 2000)].The president also gets tuition reimbursement and a reserved parking space.
Source: Survey completed by web on 1/10/00 by Christine Storck, assistant director of student activities, and by phone on 10/1/01
     "Just the president. At our school, 85 percent of our students work. If we pay the president, they can spend more time on campus because they don’t have to work off campus.
     “As a rule, I don’t believe in paying volunteers, but in this case, it is necessary to pay the president because it is just like a job.
     “Eighty-five percent of our students work when they go to school. We require [officers] to put in a minimum of 20 hours. We don’t want them to have to get a job off campus, which would prevent them from being here. As a rule, I don’t believe in paying volunteers, but in this case, it’s necessary to pay the president because it’s just like a job. It’s helping them focus on representing the students rather than paying their bills. Believe me, I don’t know of any student who runs for president to get $120 per week.”

Arizona State University, AZ
Type: public
Enrollment: 49,000
Name of SG: Associated Students
SG's annual budget: $700,000
Compensation:
president—$4,080 stipend, paid every two weeks (two semesters and summer)
executive vice president—$4,080
campus affairs vice president—$4,080
activities vice president—$4,080
graduate student affairs vice president—$4,080, graduate tuition waiver from the graduate college
treasurer of $1,000
     "We receive other perks, however, such as football tickets, invitations to special events, nice officers, a wonderful support staff, etc. As president, I also receive a special all-purpose parking pass for my convenience. I have a terrific office with a great third-story view overlooking the fountain in front of our Business College Building. This is a wonderful perk to have.
Source: Andy Ortiz, AS president, responded by fax on 10/3/97 and by phone on 10/3/97
     "I believe that officers should get paid cash salaries. I believe this, because of the extensive time and energy that goes into the job. I put in more than 40 hours a week in work. This work takes place both in and out of the office. I attend numerous functions, and serve on a host of university and community boards. I do not believe that the salaries or stipends paid to SG leaders need to be munificent, but I am a firm advocate for some financial compensation for officers.
     "As a graduate student in Law and Public Affairs, and as a married man with a family, I could not afford to be president without the $4,080 stipend that I receive for my work. While I may not be able to retire on such a hefty salary, the money does help me to pay for my education while serving the needs of the students on my campus."
     "I believe that SG officers should get paid. I don't think anything is wrong with that. I understand that being elected as an SG officer is an honor, and I am proud to have been elected by the students. But being president is a full-time job. All of the time and effort that goes into doing the job well, merits some financial compensation, I believe.
     "If an officer wants to volunteer their time, that should be their option to do so. For instance, last year we had an executive vice president who donated her salary to the Association, to pay for events instead. That was a noble gesture, but I still think that pay should be offered for SG officers."

Arizona State University, West, AZ
Type: state university
Enrollment: 5,800
Name of SG: Associated Students
SG's annual budget: $55,000 and $23,000 (rollover)
SG’s web address: n/a
SG’s e-mail: devin.rankin@asu.edu
SG’s phone: 602-543-8250
SG’s advisor: Christina Gonzalez, student life advisor
SG advisor’s phone: 602-543-8200
Compensation:
     “The top five officers (president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and AG) receive a monthly stipend of $204.00 for 12 months. It is taxable and goes fast.”
Other Perks:
     “We do receive some football tickets and other sporting events.”
Source: Devin Rankin, student body president, responded at the NW Student Leadership Conference on 11/13/01
     “No. Student Government officers should be paid. I am a president of a smaller institution and I am so frustrated with the pay that I receive. Due to my commitment to SG, I had to forgo a second job and take out a loan to live. I enjoy what I do, but for me to commit the time need to be an effective leader, I need to be in the office full time.”

Arkansas State University at Newport, AR
Type: two-year college
Enrollment:
Name of SG: Student Government Association
SG's annual budget: There is no budget for the 2000 SGA. There was a budget, but that money was raised last year for a project that was to be completed by SGA in 1999. They used that themselves, because they raised it themselves. That is only fair. We have to start from scratch, so I plan to get some ideas together that should allow us to participate in a few extracurricular activities, as well as raise funds, that may involve SGA. I have to search for a few sponsors first. The purpose of the sponsors are to allow a few of us to attend the conferences that are going on that teach leadership and things of that nature.
Compensation:
     "Student officers at the school that I attend earn no fee or services rendered. They receive no benefits. They receive no special treatment or anything else. I mean, to be honest, they are the same as everyone else. They represent the student body, so why isolate them from what they ran for, to represent the student body. If they are going to represent the student body, they must at least go through some of the tings that the student body goes through. They have to be able to relate to the student body. They have to be on the same wave length. They have to be as one. No one can be better than any other. They have to be equal. They cannot sit up in an office all day without interacting with the student body and then be able to come and tell them how things are going to happen.
Source: Survey completed by web on 9/21/00 by Alicia Danielle Davis, SGA president
     "I think it is nice that SGA members get paid a certain amount of money, but I do not think that it is a necessity. I believe that the best job that is done is a job that is done by free will, that way a person has nothing to gain or lose."

Arkansas Tech University, AR
Type: public
Enrollment: 4,500
Name of SG: Student Government Association
SG’s annual budget: $25,000
Compensation:
2 checks — 1 at beginning of each semester. Amount to be determined by workload/responsibility.
Source: Jeremiah Shinn, student body president, responded at the 20th annual National Leadership Conference on Student Government, 10/30-11/1/98
"I think that the amount of time required completely validates the stipends that student leaders receive.

Armstrong Atlantic State University, GA
Type: Public
Enrollment: 4,839
Name of SG: Student Government Association
SG annual budget: $400,000 (SGA manages that budget — $100,000 SGA operating budget)
Compensation:
     "Tuition stipends, a reserved parking space, travel, an occasional meal, and a shirt. All four elected officers receive full tuition while in school ($630 per quarter)."
president
vice president
secretary
treasurer
Source: Al Harris, student activities director, responded by phone on 6/597, by fax on 8/6/97, and by phone on 10/1/97
     "Club/organization officers should not be paid."

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL
Type: private
Enrollment: 3,000
Name of SG: Student Government
SG's annual budget: $28,000
Compensation:
(four officers — no serves as president, vice president, etc.)
each receives $6.75 per hour for 15 hours a week (paycheck), during summer (12 weeks) and winter break (five weeks), paid for five hours a week — no perks
     "If the student body has to pay, we have to pay. Everyone has to pay for parking, we're right in the loop in Chicago. Most people take the train anyway or bike."
Source: Amanda Ondrick, Student Government officer, responded by web on 10/3/97, and by phone on 10/3/97
     "Yes, they need to be compensated for the work that goes into their job. With our SG, we do programming, fund student groups, go to many, many meetings, and have individual projects you work on. No one can do this without getting paid. Also, with people that complain that student money should not go to this, the SG is the connection between administration and the students. Without this, the students would have less say where their tuition goes."

Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Type: private
Enrollment: ?
Name of SG: ?
SG's annual budget: ?
SG’s web address: ?
Compensation:
     “I am not sure, but I do not think they receive anything but their own self-fulfillment.”
Other Perks:
     “I do not think the officers receive anything.”
Source: Carol Smith responded by web on 6/26/01
     “Yes. I think Student Government officers should be paid because from my experience these positions take up a lot of students’ time and energy and often times a student has to choose between that position or finding a part-time job to either pay for books, housing, auto, or classes. The choice? Most times, the part-time job robs the student of the opportunity he or she wanted.”

Asbury College, KY
Type: private
Enrollment: 1,250
Name of SG: Student Government
SG's annual budget: 70,000
Compensation:
president — $1,665/yr (15 percent of tuition)
vice president-governance — $1,443 (13 percent of tuition)
vice president-activities — $1,443
vice president-spiritual life — $1,443
treasurer — $1,000 (9 percent of tuition)
secretary — $1,000
     "It's a "talent award" similar to athletics or music."
Source: Mark Troyer, associate dean student leadership development, via mail on 8/11/97, and e-mail on 9/19/97

Auburn University-Montgomery, AL
Type: public
Enrollment: 5,000 (Griffin); 5,500 (Tritz)
Name of SG: Student Government Association of AUM
Web: http://www.aum.edu/home/life/organizations/SGA/
Phone: not provided
E-mail: studentgov@pluto.aum.edu
Advisor: not provided
Advisor’s e-mail: not provided
SG's annual budget: $65,000 (Griffin); $58-$60,000--This includes funds for the CAB. This fiscal year, however, due to rollover, our budget is somewhere around $80,000 (Tritz)
Compensation:
     Griffin
President— $350/month
Vice President— $350/month
Treasurer— $300/month
Campus Activities Director— $300/month
Assistant Activities Director—$200/month
     “Payroll comes out of the SG operating budget, but not from student fees. Student fees were instituted by the SG, but the university’s student affairs department holds control over those funds.”
     Tritz
     "The SGA president and vice president both get $250 per month each. The SGA treasurer and SGA Campus Activities Board (CAB) director get $200 per month each. The terms are one calendar year long."
Other Perks:
     Griffin
     “Semi-private offices and use of computers. Travel and use of vehicles for SG business comes out of SG budget. We have very few ‘perks,’ otherwise.”
Sources: Survey completed by web on 7/23/02 and by e-mail on 10/17/02 by Ken Griffin, former 2000-2001 president; by web on 2/3/99 by Patrick A. Tritz, Student Senator from the school of science, formerly 1997-98 SGA VP, then president. Prior to that, a student senator at large in 1996-97.
     Griffin
     “Yes. Executive members often have to put more time into their SG work than many other student organization leaders. As a result, these SG leaders find it difficult to maintain other forms of income, due to the amount of hours needed in SG to do a good job.
     “Cash is better. It allows the leaders to spend as they need.”
     Tritz
     "Yes. In order to get them to remain committed to the job they are supposed to be doing.
     "Idealistically, yes. But the only way to entice students to run and hopefully do a good job is to pay a salary even if it is meager."

Averett College, VA
Type: private
Enrollment: 2,500
Name of SG: Student Government Association
SG's annual budget: $10,000
Compensation: none
Source: Shelly Kay, former student activities director, responded by phone on 6/12/97
     "SGA president probably puts in four hours a week."

Next Page

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M
N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z