President to see pay raise
OCCC President Paul Se-christ will earn an extra $9,000 in salary next year.
The OCCC Board of Regents approved a 3.5 percent pay increase plus an additional $750 increase, indicating that he earned the highest performance rating in his job.
The 3.5 percent increase plus $750 brings his annual salary from $198,120 to $207,036, and is consistent with pay raises for other college employees.
Many college employees feel the raise is well deserved.
Pat Berryhill, Institutional Advancement executive director, is one such person.
“Dr. Sechrist worked with the State Regents and Legislature the past six months to secure millions in additional funding for our students and this college,” she said.
“What significant accomplishments he has already achieved in a short amount of time.”
Susan VanSchuyver, Arts and Humanities dean, said Sechrist deserves a raise like everyone else.
“We got a lot of new funding this year that we have never had before,” she said.
On the other hand, one student feels the money could have been better spent on campus improvements.
“That’s an awfully large raise,” said psychology major Laurie Thornton. “I think he’s been an excellent president so far, but it seems that the money could be better spent elsewhere.”
Health Lab Coordinator Lloyd Kingsbury said if anyone at the college deserves a raise, it’s Sechrist.
“I’ve been here 17 years,” Kingsbury said. “Since he’s been here, he’s done more for the students, faculty and staff than past presidents. Well deserved.”
Editor Holly Jones can be reached at editor@occc.edu.
