VCU paying Wilder $150,000

-- Former Richmond Mayor L. Douglas Wilder doesn't have to worry about a freeze on his salary from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Wilder, who holds the title of distinguished professor, got a raise to $150,000 when he returned to VCU full time this month, even as the state portion of faculty salaries is capped by Virginia's budget crunch.

Wilder, who teaches in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, received a VCU salary of $50,000 while he was mayor and $100,000 before then.

He received $125,000 annually from the city while serving as mayor from 2005 through last month.

VCU Rector Thomas Rosenthal said yesterday that Wilder's new salary was negotiated in May, after the mayor decided he would not seek re-election.

"I can honestly say we were not aware of the depth of the problem" the university would face in the state budget crisis, Rosenthal said. But he said the salary is commensurate with Wilder's stature.

Rosenthal said he could not say whether the board of visitors would have acted differently in hindsight. VCU and other four-year colleges face state budget cuts of 15 percent.

Wilder's raise reflects an increase in responsibilities as a 12-month employee, VCU spokeswoman Pam Lepley said. She said the salary is entirely state-funded and does not include benefits.

"Distinguished professor" is an honorary title awarded by the board of visitors. VCU President Eugene P. Trani will hold the title when he retires at the end of June.

Lepley said there are seven distinguished professors who do not have their positions endowed. Of those seven, the average annualized salary is $170,828. She said there are 171 faculty members with salaries of $150,000 or more, which is 6.6 percent of the faculty. Most of them have benefits, she said.

Last year, Wilder taught one class, served as a guest lecturer in other classes, and had responsibilities for university development, Lepley said.

Now, he's responsible for teaching one class in the spring and one in the fall, serving as a guest lecturer, and overseeing the new L. Douglas Wilder Lectureship Series, Lepley said. The series kicked off last month with entertainer Bill Cosby, a longtime friend of Wilder.

Wilder also will pursue development opportunities for the Wilder School and its Center for Public Policy, as well as VCU's College of Humanities and Sciences.

Dan Ream, president of VCU's faculty senate, was cautious about reacting to Wilder's salary.

"I don't feel I have the whole picture of what we're getting for our money," he said.

But William E. Blake Jr., a professor emeritus of history at VCU, described himself as angry and disappointed.

"I really do think it's exorbitant," Blake said. "I really cannot see the justification in that kind of salary for the position."

The average salary of professors at VCU, excluding associate and assistant professors, is $112,745, according to the university. Some are nine-month employees, while others work year-round.

Wilder did not return a message left yesterday with his assistant.

Contact Will Jones at (804) 649-6911 or .

Contact Karin Kapsidelis at (804) 649-6119 or .