The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning raised the salaries of many of the state’s university presidents during its Aug. 17-19 retreat.

The salaries of the presidents at Alcorn State University, Delta State University, Mississippi University for Women, and Mississippi Valley State University have been increased from $112,324 to $134,000 per year, effective July 1, 1999. The salary of Jackson State University’s president has been raised from $115,532 to $150,000 per year, effective July 1, 1999.

The president at Jackson State has a higher salary range because his institution is between a regional campus like Alcorn and a comprehensive campus like Mississippi State, said Pamela Smith, spokesperson for the State Institutions of Higher Learning.

The college board plans to take action on a policy regarding state-funded salaries and university foundation salary supplements at its Sept. 15-16 meeting. At that time, the salaries of the presidents at Mississippi State University, the University of Mississippi and the University of Southern Mississippi will be finalized and announced, Smith said.

The current salaries for the big three university presidents, including foundation compensation, is: Mississippi State University, $278,369; University of Mississippi, $228,369; and the University of Southern Mississippi, $178,369.

&uot;The Board has been concerned that its salaries for Institutional Executive Officers have become increasingly less competitive in recent years,&uot; said Dr. Thomas D. Layzell, Commissioner of Higher Education.

&uot;They have taken this action to bring Institutional Officer salaries more in line with their peers in the region as well as nationally,&uot; Layzell said.

Board President Ricki Garrett of Clinton said she supported the increases because &uot;our presidents provide first-class leadership for our institutions, and they deserve to be compensated at a level that is in keeping with regional and national trends.&uot;

&uot;The increase will also assist us in attracting the best possible candidates as we conduct future presidential searches for our universities,&uot; Garrett said.