Central State University officials say they are on the rebound from fiscal watch.
An I-Team analysis of state data maintained to monitor the fiscal health of Ohio's universities found Central State's health improved last year more than any other college, though it still had the lowest score in the state.
Central State is balancing its books in part by cutting administrative staff as its student population declines. University officials say they were able to cut CSU’s payroll 20 percent in recent years without affecting teaching staff.
>>> Related: ‘Administrative bloat’ hiking tuition, college costs
Payroll records obtained as part of the I-Team Payroll Project show CSU President Cynthia Jackson-Hammond was the only CSU employee who made more than $200,000 last year, which is far fewer than at other area schools such as Miami University and Wright State University.
>>> Search the I-Team Payroll Project
Hammond's compensation does not include an off-campus country club home she moved into last year that is being purchased by the university. Jackson-Hammond is not alone. An I-Team investigation last year found university presidents are the state's highest-paid employees living in publicly subsidized housing.
The highest-paid Central State employees in 2015:
1. Cynthia Jackson-Hammond, President: $251,373
2. Charles Ford, Provost & Vice President Academic Affairs: $170,000
3. Daarel Burnette, Vice President for Administration and Finance and Chief Financial Officer: $155,000
4. Anthony Fairbanks, Vice President of Institutional Advancement: $129,272
5. Fidelis Ikem, Dean of College of Business: $125,000
6. Subramania Sritharan, Dean of College of Science & Engineering: $120,706
7. Rebecca Ertel, Associate Vice President Plan & Assessment: $110,691
8. Lovette Chinwah, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs: $108,000
9. Abayomi Ajayi-Majebi, Professor: $106,919
10. Augustus Morris, Associate Professor: $106,580
Go here for the searchable I-Team Payroll Project database of employees at Central State University and other local government agencies who were paid $50,000 or more in 2014 and 2015.
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