University of South Carolina President Gets $40,000 Bonus

By James T. Hammond, The State, Columbia, S.C.

Nov. 10–Andrew Sorensen has become the University of South Carolina’s first half-million-dollar president.

USC trustees have approved a $40,000 one-time bonus for Sorensen — a payment that will push the USC president’s annual compensation above $500,000 a year for the first time.

“The trustees felt that Andrew has done such a fantastic job of getting our research dollars up,” trustees President Herbert Adams said. “He’s done a great job of communicating with the people around the state — from regular citizens to the leaders.

“We had the highest annual giving ever this year. … He’s trying as hard as he can to make the university a better place and we think succeeding.”

Rep. Ronnie Townsend, R-Anderson, agreed that Sorensen is doing a good job, but he was surprised by the figure — and he believes most South Carolinians would be surprised as well.

“I don’t think anyone can say we’re underpaying the president of USC,” said Townsend, chairman of the House Education and Public Works Committee.

The USC Education Foundation, the private, non-profit entity that provides numerous financial supplements to the university’s programs, paid Sorensen $265,000 last year and this year, on top of his $222,525 state salary.

That makes his total recurring income $487,525 for the financial year that began July 1.

USC trustees approved the $40,000 bonus on Oct. 27, raising his total compensation to $527,525.

Sorensen has served as USC president for three years and was 63 years old when he started the job.

“I’d be disappointed if he did not stay at least another three or four years,” Adams said.

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