High-priced Vacation or Valid Paid Leave?

Grades in some college classes still factor in attendance. And some students at the University of Central Arkansas say attendance should factor into the pay of certain administrators. Students are upset that Executive Vice President John Smith has received $158 thousand dollars to be on paid leave. He doesnt qualify for sabbatical or paid leave because he isnt a tenured professor. Smith has worked around the campus in many capacities for 20 years. He has taught, but most of his service has been administrative - most recently acting as interim president for the school before moving into the executive v.p. spot. Jack Gillean, vice president for administration, says the executive vice presidency was largely created for Smith in appreication of all hes done for UCA. The leave was agreed to in his contract by the trustees who do have the authority to go around school rules and grant such. Advocacy group, Students for the Future, is upset that tuitions gone up 6.4 percent while a vice presidents getting paid to not be on campus. His salary would pay the tuition of 77 UCA students. The college maintains that Smith is now doing valuable research that will benefit the school when he returns to the classroom in January. Then he will assume another postion created just for him - the director of a graduate school program, College Student Personnel Services and Administration. The programs existed for years and will just now have a director. It serves only 26 registered students. Another part of the Smith debate involves politics. Some feel the school has paid him to run for office as a Republican. Smiths challenging Robby Wills for Marvin Parks House seats in District 46. Politics may also play into why anyone is challenging his leave time. The leader of Students for the Future is active with Arkansas Young Democrats.