SEMO PRESIDENT'S PAY SECOND ONLY TO THOSE IN U OF M SYSTEM

Southeast Missouri State University President Kala Stroup had the second highest salary among the presidents of Missouri's public four-year colleges last fiscal year, excluding the University of Missouri system.

Stroup's salary of $109,200 was exceeded only by that of the president of Central Missouri State University who made $120,733, according to a survey by the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education.

"I think the work that she does merits the pay," said Lynn Dempster of Sikeston, who serves on Southeast's Board of Regents.

"Kala works diligently and she works steadily," said Dempster. "I feel she earns what we pay her."

Dempster compared Stroup to the CEO of a multi-million dollar corporation. On that basis, she said, Stroup's salary "is certainly not excessive at all."

Dempster said the job of any university president is an all-consuming one. "They have really no time of their own."

Dempster said the regents are well aware of what salaries are paid the presidents of Missouri's other state colleges and universities. "You do have to have a yardstick" for setting a salary, she explained.

Salaries of the presidents at other schools were:

-- Lincoln University, $104,782;

-- Missouri Southern State College, $102,980;

-- Northwest Missouri State University, $101,194;

-- Southwest Missouri State, $99,704;

-- Harris-Stowe, $98,000;

-- Northeast Missouri State University, $96,800;

-- and Missouri Western, $87,528.

Salaries were considerably higher for the University of Missouri president and the chancellors who head the university's four campuses.

George Russell, president of the University of Missouri system, received a salary of $160,000. The chancellor of the Columbia campus made $150,000, while the chancellors of the St. Louis, Kansas City and Rolla campuses each made $122,000.

Among the 13 colleges and universities, only four did not provide a house for their president in the 1993 fiscal year, the coordinating board report said.

Southeast provides Stroup with a house, car, custodian-groundskeeper, and reimbursement for university-related entertainment expenses. The school also pays her automobile expenses.

Stroup's non-salary benefits are similar to those offered at many of Missouri's public four-year colleges and universities, the survey showed.