Tête à Tête: Should VC Nigel Thrift receive a pay rise?

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YES – Thomas Diamond

The job of Vice-Chancellor is similar to that of a chairman of industry, both run private sector companies and at heart, the aim of their job is to create profit. Nigel Thrift has done this. The University now has no debt, its turnover increased by 5% last financial year and 2.6% the year before (£31.6million in total), the same two years the Vice-Chancellor took a voluntary pay freeze. In any private sector company this growth rate would be met by a pay increase and a large bonus, why should the Vice-Chancellor be any different?

However, some would argue that as the symbolic head of the university the Vice-Chancellor has a dual role to provide student confidence. In reality, this is secondary unless it damages the University reputation and discourages students to come here, or in other words prevents the flow of capital. Yet even in this sphere Warwick has improved under the Vice-Chancellor’s leadership. Warwick is becoming a truly global university, connecting with Monash and many other universities around the world, adding to our prestige. Alongside this, some would say more importantly, we can see that recently Warwick has become the top target for the UK best 100 employers, and in this current climate who can say that this is a minor issue?

Finally, as the University is a public instiution it cannot simply fritter money away. This means that a pay increase is more likely to be a valued judgement rather than simply ‘pig in the trough’ attitude. Without this £50,000 pay increase the Vice-Chancellor would be badly paid in comparison to Vice-Chancellors at other Russell Group Universities.

Therefore, either as a sign of recognition, an attempt to keep the Vice-Chancellor at Warwick or to keep Warwick’s Prestige, our leaders must be on the same level as other Russell Group universities.[/one_third]
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NO – Lauren Clarke

You must have been living under a rock for the last few days if you haven’t heard the latest news regarding our beloved Vice-Chancellor, Nigel Thrift. He has recieved a £42,000 pay rise granted to him by the Enumerations Committee. Note, this ludicrous pay rise is on top of his annual salary of £274,000 – taking the grand total to £316,000. Swathes of angry students have come out against this pay rise – many have rushed to his defence.

These pathetic attempts at justification lie with the fact that in 2008-2010 Thrift had to endure the hardships of a pay freeze. Unless you’ve noticed the country’s been having a bit of a pay freeze, (and pay cuts, benefit slashings, huge unemployment, and general hard times to be specific).

Thrift claimed £100,000, over three years, on travel expenditure to secure a special relationship with that really ‘well-known university’, Monash. During this period Warwick dropped dropped from the QS University World Rankings in the top 50 of the league tables.
Capital expenditure has increased at the University, one of the latest constructions to be added to the estate is a garishly coloured, oblong-shaped ‘Library Cafe’, which looks like IKEA has vomited out its decor.

Last time I checked having core course textbooks and a library in which you don’t have to fight your fellow students for spaces was more of a necessity to a degree than getting a coffee.

A degree which students are now paying £9,000 a year for – £9,000 more than our VC had to pay when he received his undergraduate degree.

Thrift-y, all I can suggest to you is that you talk to your students, attempting to give us some justification for accepting this ludicrous amount of money when students and the economy around you is struggling more than ever.

Please note here, ‘attempt’ is very much the operative word.[/one_third_last]