BISMARCK N.D.

The presidents of North Dakota's two largest universities would be paid at least $300,000 annually under new salary guidelines the Board of Higher Education is preparing to approve. The sum would represent a raise of at least 42 percent.

The salary ranges, offered by William Goetz, the new chancellor of North Dakota's university system, also suggest pay increases for seven of the system's eight remaining presidents, all of whom make six-figure salaries.

The exception is Lee Vickers, president of Dickinson State University, who is retiring at year's end. Vickers' $157,915 annual salary is barely within a suggested range of $155,000 to $175,000 for the presidents of Dickinson State, Valley City State and Mayville State universities.

Goetz and Laura Glatt, the university system's vice chancellor for administrative affairs, said the pay ranges were compiled using salary information from comparable schools across the country.

A three-member Board of Higher Education subcommittee endorsed the proposals on Tuesday. The full board will take them up Thursday, when its members meet at Minot State University.

"I think this is a really good package," said board member Sue Andrews, who was chairwoman of the board's compensation subcommittee.

Board members Jon Backes and John Q. Paulsen, who is president of the board, also served on the subcommittee.

UND President Charles Kupchella and Joseph Chapman, president of North Dakota State University, have state salaries of $211,686 annually. The proposed new salary range for both jobs is $300,000 to $325,000.

Both men now get added compensation from foundations at their respective schools, which has increased Kupchella's current annual compensation to $261,000, and Chapman's to $361,000.

The Board of Higher Education's proposed new salary policy does not count on foundation contributions, although it says they must be disclosed to the board and paid through the university system.