Stuart

DALLAS — Texas Woman’s University Chancellor Ann Stuart received an 11 percent raise Thursday, along with another three-year extension of her contract.

The Board of Regents bypassed Stuart’s recommendation for a 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment, opting for a market adjustment instead.

As a result, Stuart’s salary will jump about $42,000 per year, from about $388,000 to $430,000, beginning Sept. 1.

Board chairman Harry Crumpacker said that Stuart’s salary remained flat between 2007 and 2008, when Stuart sought, and received, a similar cost-of-living adjustment.

“We felt another cost-of-living adjustment didn’t reflect the kind of job she’s done for the university,” Crumpacker said. “The market jumped and we didn’t keep up.”

Last month, across town at the University of North Texas, the regents offered President Gretchen Bataille a new base salary of $353,000 and Chancellor Lee Jackson $397,752, beginning Sept. 1.

Stuart, 72, has received $173,000 in market adjustments since the beginning of her tenure as the head of Texas Woman’s University in 2000. She received a $91,000 adjustment in 2005 and a $40,000 adjustment in 2006.

University spokeswoman Amanda Simpson said that many on campus credit Stuart with turning around declining enrollment.

“She had a plan,” Simpson said.

Representing TWU at college fairs and other events and places became a priority, Simpson said, and they now regularly reach out to high school graduates and community college students.

Under Stuart’s leadership, not only did enrollment numbers go up, but the quality of students enrolling increased, too, Crumpacker said.

Stuart thanked the Board of Regents for the opportunity to continue working with the university.

“I’m very honored,” she said.

PEGGY HEINKEL-WOLFE can be reached at 940-566-6881. Her e-mail address is pheinkel-wolfe@dentonrc.com.