The President of Western University's nearly $1-million payout in 2014 is coming under heavy fire.
An online petition calling for a vote of non-confidence in Western's Chair of the Board of Governors Chirag Shah and President Amit Chakma has collected over 1500 signatures, and counting.
The sunshine list, released on Friday, revealed Chakma's $924,000 salary last year.
He is the highest paid public servant in the city.
Last year, Chakma was paid double his yearly salary in lieu of a one year leave included in his five year contract, signed in 2009. The board has since reappointed the president to a second five year contract with the same conditions.
Members of the Western University community say the payout is a slap in the face to those paying tuition, those making donations to the school and all other professors.
"The choice made by the Board to compensate Dr. Chakma nearly $1-million - twice his normal salary - comes at a time when the core mission of the university is being compromised by a broken budget model," reads the online petition. "These bad decisions and mismanagement of university funds are resulting in fewer classes being offered, larger class sizes and staff reductions. They also reflect an unresponsive and non-consultative senior administration. We demand better."
In a news release detailing Western University employee's salaries for the past year Board Chair Chirag Shah writes "Dr. Chakma is recognized nationally and internationally as one of the most influential academic leaders in Canada, which is reflected in his salary. The continued momentum of Western's drive to become a world-class research university and to raise Canada's profile as a leader in international education has benefited greatly from his guidance since his arrival in 2009, and especially over the last year."
The petition is gaining traction online. The goal is to have members of the Western community contact university senators and urge the to bring a vote of non-confidence to the senate on April 10.
