Shelton would donate $50,000 proposed raise to UA

University of Arizona President Robert N. Shelton's new three-year contract would give him a $50,000 raise this summer if the Arizona Board of Regents approves the contract next week.

Shelton has said he will give it back to the university, establishing the Robert and Adrian Shelton Philanthropic Fund, according to a UA news release.

In the give-back, Shelton - whose salary is $420,000 - would join a number of university presidents who have given up raises or bonuses this year to help their institutions during the nation's economic downturn.

Arizona State University President Michael Crow turned over his $60,000 bonus in December to a fund for need-based financial aid.

The money is sorely needed, in light of the university facing at least a $20 million midyear budget reduction from the state and another in July, when the new fiscal year begins.

The fund Shelton's raise will create will focus on UA's highest priorities, giving special attention to providing financial aid for students, according to university spokesperson Johnny Cruz.

Shelton told the Tucson Citizen last year that he and his wife annually fund one full-tuition scholarship at UA.

Regents meet at UA next week to consider a number of issues, including Shelton's contract extension. It is the first extension for the president, who took over UA's reins in 2006.

The new contract would run from July 1 to June 30, 2012. He plans to donate the $50,000 bump in his base salary to UA for each year of the three-year contract.

Jim Moore, president of the University of Arizona Foundation, praised the Shelton decision.

"This is a further example of the great leadership that Robert and Adrian have brought to our community," Moore said. "In this difficult economic time, support for students is particularly important, and this endowment will have a lasting impact for students coming to the university."

Top administrators from the University of Connecticut, the University of Louisville, Rutgers, Washington State, the University of Washington, Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Florida, Florida Atlantic University, the University of Central Florida, Stanford, Cornell and the University of South Florida have given up pay increases and bonuses, taken a pay cut, and/or donated significant sums back to their universities, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.