UNC clamps down on administrator leave pay policy

CHAPEL HILL — A University of North Carolina panel has revised a policy that allows school administrators to collect leave pay even if they don’t return to teaching positions at the school as planned.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reported Friday that the panel approved a plan to stop chancellors and presidents of universities from taking paid leave without returning to the school.

The newspaper reported a provost at North Carolina Central University was paid $104,000 for six months’ leave and then retired. A provost at Fayetteville State University got $72,500 in leave pay before being fired and one at UNC-Asheville got $59,000 before accepting a position at another school.

Leave pay has cost the universities $8 million in the past five years.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)