Recognition and Compensation for Presidential Spouses/Partners

COUNCIL OF INDEPENDENT COLLEGES 

2012 Presidents Institute 

Recognition and Compensation for 

Presidential Spouses/Partners 

Raymond D. Cotton, JD, M.Sc. 

202.434.7322 

rcotton@mintz.com 

January 6, 2012 

701 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. | Washington, D.C. 20004 | 202 434-7322 | 202 434-7400 fax

I. Overview 

• Background and Context 

• 2011 CIC Presidential Spouses Study 

• Questions and Answers 

• Conclusion 

ML Strategies LLC 

CIC | Recognition and Compensation for Spouses/Partners | January 6, 2012 | 2

• Administrative Assistant to the President/Chancellor 

• Associate of the University 

• Associate/Assistant to the President/Chancellor 

• First Lady/Gentleman (of the University) 

• Mrs. or Mr. 

II. Background and Context 

Popular Titles as Used in Academia 

• Senior Advisor for Institutional Advancement 

• Senior Counselor for External Relations 

• Special Assistant to the President/Chancellor 

• University Representative 




Compensation, Recognition, and Benefits 

• Salary or stipend 

• Retirement Benefits 

– Insurances 

• Health 

• Life 

• Disability 

• Long Term Care 




Compensation, Recognition, and Benefits (cont.) 

• Deferred Compensation (including annuities) 

• Car Allowance 

• Tuition Assistance (for self and children) 

• Travel Reimbursement 




Board Expectations, Reviews and Evaluations 

• Responsibilities and Obligations 

• Timing and Frequency of Evaluations 

• By whom 

• Employment Agreement/Letter of 

Appointment 



III. 2011 CIC Presidential Spouses Study 

• In the Fall of 2011, CIC and ML Strategies collaborated to 

design and produce the 2011 CIC Presidential Spouses 

Survey. 

• The Survey aimed to gather data on the role of the 

presidential spouse/partner and how the institution 

recognizes and/or compensates her/him. 

• CIC spouses were asked to complete an online 

questionnaire through SurveyMonkey.com. 

• A total of 97 CIC spouses participated in the Survey. 

• 85% were female 15% were male 



• Adjunct Faculty 

• Assistant to the President 

• Associate 

• Associate to the Board of Trustees 

• Associate to the President for Community, Trustees and 

Parent Relations 

• Associate Vice President 

• Chief Executive Service Assistant 

• Community/University Ambassador 

• Community Relations Representative 

• Dean of Admission 


III. CIC Responses: 

Titles 


• Director of the Office of Special Services 

• Director of Special Initiatives 

• First Lady/Spouse 

• Mrs./Mr. 

• No title 

• Presidential Spouse/Husband 

• Professor 

• Senior Development Officer 

• Servant Leadership Director 


Titles (cont.) 

• Special Assistant to the President 




Employee Status and Percentage of Time 

• 66% of reporting spouses are considered employees of 

the institution. 34% of reporting spouses are not 

considered employees. 

• However, all of the spouses devote some part of their 

time to activities related to being the presidential 

spouse/partner, with the majority spending 25-50% of 

their time on such activities. 

• Most spouses commented that most of these activities 

included attending or hosting institution-related 

events. 




Does the institution employ an event planner 

with whom you work on presidential events 

• Yes, part time: 19% 

• Yes, full time: 35% 

• No: 46% 

• In a recent similar Study we conducted on the 

spouses of many of the large, public land-grant 

institutions, all of the spouses received event 

planners. 




Does the Board have specific expectations of 

you as a presidential spouse/partner 

• Yes, stated in writing: 14% 

• Yes, not stated in writing: 46% 

• No: 40% 

• The majority of spouses commented that expectations 

included traveling with the president and attending 

presidential events. 

• Some spouses noted that they have a job description, 

but only one spouse noted that she/he has an 

employment contract with the institution. 




Did you (and/or your spouse) have a discussion with the 

Board regarding your role with the college prior to beginning 

• Yes: 41% 

• No: 59% 

your service 

• An overwhelming majority commented that there was no 

formal discussion. 

• In fact, many comments revealed that the Board 

assumed the president and the spouse “came as a 

package,” or “were two for the price of one.” 

• In the majority of responses, if there was a discussion, it 

was brief and informal. 




Do you receive any of the following support 

• Yard work: 75% 

• Secretarial assistance: 27% 

• Maid: 60% 

• Cook: 19% 

• Childcare: 7% 

• Driver: 3% 

services 

• Many of the spouses receive these benefits, but only for 

presidential events (i.e. catering/cooking for College 

event). 




Do you receive a salary or stipend for you work as a 

presidential spouse/partner 

• No: 77% 

• Yes: 23% 

• Of those that received a salary or stipend, exluding 

symbolic numbers… 

– The range was $6,000 to $55,000 annually 

– The median was $20,000 annually 

– The average was $23,179 annually 




Other benefits provided 

• Travel expenses: provided for 83% 

– For those that do receive it this benefit, most 

receive reimbursement for travel, meals and 

lodging 

• Separate retirement plan: provided for 21% 

– Most that do receive this benefit are employees 

• Tuition remission for children: provided for 91% 

– Of those that receive this benefit, almost all 

receive full tuition remission 



• Tuition remission for spouse: provided for 63% 

– Of those that receive this benefit, most receive full 

tuition remission 

– There was a very low response rate for this question, 

and comments revealed that many spouses are unsure 

if they receive this benefit 

• Housing allowance: Provided for 18% 

– The median was $9,600 annually 

• House (if no housing allowance): Provided for 80% 

– The majority of spouses do not know the annual rental 

value 



Other benefits provided (cont.) 


IV. Questions and Answers 

• All questions are encouraged and welcome! 



Ray is Vice President of Higher Education for ML Strategies, LLC and a partner in the 

Mintz Levin law firm. He primarily represents higher education and other nonprofit entities. 

His clients include schools, colleges, universities, foundations and other nonprofits. He 

has represented over 250 university boards of trustees, presidents and nonprofit CEO’s 

during his more than twenty-five years in practice. He frequently counsels both boards of 

trustees and presidents on such matters as CEO compensation, performance evaluation, 

goal-setting, direct and deferred compensation, Intermediate Sanctions, Sarbanes-Oxley 

and best practices for managing non-profit institutions. 

Raymond D. Cotton, JD, M.Sc 

Ray is a frequent speaker on the programs of Higher Education Associations, as well as a regular contributor to the 

Chronicle of Higher Education. His legal work and compensation analyses have gotten him recognition in many national 

publications, including the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. Earlier in his career 

Ray served in the public sector as Special Assistant to the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare under 

Secretaries Elliot Richardson and Caspar Weinberger. 

He has also served as an adjunct faculty member at both the School of Law and the School of Medicine at George 

Washington University, as well as at the Georgetown University Medical School, and the Harvard University School of 

Public Health. In addition, he has lectured at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill), UCLA, Yale and many 

others. From 1991-1995, he served on the Board of Trustees of Monmouth University. 

Ray is admitted to legal practice in the District of Columbia, and to the U.S. Tax Court and the U.S. Supreme Court. He 

is a member of the American Bar Association. Ray received his BA with highest honors from Monmouth University, 

where he graduated first in his class. He is the first person in the history of Harvard University to have earned degrees 

from both its Law School (JD) and its graduate School of Public Health (M.Sc.).

Recognition and Compensation for Presidential Spouses/Partners

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