Chancellor Constance Carroll Refuses Pay Raise Amid Contract Extension

Constance Carroll, chancellor of the San Diego Community College District since July 2004, will stay head of the three-college district an additional four years, the Board of Trustees decided Thursday night.

But Carroll turned down a pay raise as part of her new package, saying she wanted to be governed by the same collective bargaining salary caps that apply to faculty and staff members. 

According to a U-T San Diego report last year, Carroll’s base salary is $267,976, and her total compensation package after benefits comes to more than $304,000. 

The board voted unanimously to renew Carroll’s employment contract, the district said.

“Trustee Mary Graham, who chaired the Chancellor’s Evaluation Committee, gave a number of reasons for the board’s enthusiastic extension of Carroll’s employment contract,” said a district statement.

Graham said the “board could not be more pleased and grateful for Chancellor Carroll’s leadership of the district and her contributions to the community.”

She noted the “depth and breadth of the chancellor’s involvement in district, California community colleges, and national community college affairs; her excellent leadership and management; her stewardship of the district budget process during California’s financial crisis.”

Board President Rich Grosch and his fellow board members concurred with this assessment, stating that the “district is fortunate to have such an effective leader at the helm during these challenging times.”

At Carroll’s request, she was not granted a pay increase for the fourth consecutive year, preferring instead to be governed by the same collective bargaining salary caps that apply to faculty and staff members. 

After the vote, Carroll said, “I consider it an honor to work with our district community of faculty, administrators, staff, and student leaders, and especially with this Board in carrying out our shared desire to ensure the district’s stability and excellence.”

Before becoming chancellor, she was president of San Diego Mesa College from 1993 to 2004. She also oversees the district’s six continuing education centers.