College presidents enjoy big rewards, but less job security

Helicopter parents, impatient trustees, overworked professors, entitled athletics boosters and deeply partisan lawmakers with little cash to spare. It’s enough to make people wonder why anyone would want the job of college president. Sure, the pay is pretty good—OK, it’s typically really, really good—and the perks sizable, from free housing and a company car to travel budgets. But when it comes to running the 21st century American university, the men and women in the president’s office are increasingly on high alert that their stays at the top could prove short. Look no further than the University of Virginia, where the sudden ouster and subsequent rehiring of President Teresa Sullivan has made national headlines. Or, look to state flagship universities in Illinois, Oregon, Texas and Wisconsin, where presidents resigned or were forced out in the past year after relatively brief stints in charge. Or look no further than your own back yard, where LSU is dealing with the departure of several high profile administrators in recent months—including the ouster of system president John Lombardi in April, and flagship chancellor Mike Martin’s announcement in May that he’ll be headed to Colorado State University to preside over its system in August. The Associated Press has the full feature here.