Under a schedule approved in a publicly voted action of CSU's Trustees, CSULB Provost Donald Para, chosen as "Interim President" by CSU Chancellor Timothy White, pushed his retirement date a few weeks beyond the one year anniversary of his appointment, allowing him to reap thousands of additional pension dollars annually beyond his previous salary.

LBREPORT.com was (to our knowledge) the only media outlet to report the pension spike at the time it was developing. To our knowledge, no CSU administrators, faculty (current or retired), alumni or student organization(s) objected to what took place.

[From LBREPORT.com archival coverage] (Jan. 31, 2014) -- LBREPORT.com has learned that a veteran CSULB administrator, chosen by CSU's Chancellor last year as CSULB "interim president" during a search for a permanent CSULB president, may receive a lifetime pension boost by qualifying -- by just days -- to have his pension calculated to include a $90,000 salary boost he's been paid during his interim presidency, an increase approved last year in a publicly voted action by CSU's Trustees.

Dr. Donald Para had been receiving an annual salary as CSULB Provost of $230,004. In May 2013 (in response to CSULB President F. King Alexander's exit to head the LSU system), CSU Chancellor Timothy White chose Dr. Para as CSULB interim president. CA Code of Regulations Title 5, Section 42702 gives CSU's chancellor authority to appoint "acting" presidents.

In July 2013, CSU's Trustees voted to approve a salary for Dr. Para as interim president of $320,329, the same sum budgeted in FY13-14 for longtime CSULB President Alexander.

At the CSU Trustees' July 23, 2013 meeting, an agenda item presented the proposed compensation for several newly named campus presidents and for interim president Para as follows:

[CSU Trustees agenda item text] Background

At the May 2012 meeting of the Board of Trustees the Policy on Presidential Compensation was amended to freeze compensation paid with state funds at current levels. It also provided for an up to ten percent salary increase from non state funds. The policy adopted also requires policy reassessment by January 2014. The base salary, paid with public funds, for the above named presidents and interim president does not exceed the previous incumbents' pay."...

Dr. Donald J. Para, interim president, CSU Long Beach

Dr. Donald J. Para will receive an annual salary of $320,329 effective June 24, 2013, his starting date as interim president of CSU Long Beach. As a condition of his employment as interim president, Dr. Para will be required to use the official university presidential residence located in Long Beach, California as the occasion demands. The university residence is scheduled for required maintenance. In accord with existing policy, Dr. Para will receive the following benefits while serving as interim president: an auto allowance of $1,000 per month and standard benefit provisions afforded CSU executive classification employees Dr. Para will not be eligible for an executive transition program as an interim president.

The following resolution is recommended for adoption:

...RESOLVED , by the Board of Trustees of the California State University, that Dr. Donald J. Para shall receive a salary set at the annual rate of $320,329 effective June 24, 2013 [emphasis added] the date of his appointment as interim president of California State University, Long Beach. Dr. Para shall receive additional benefits as cited in Item 2 of the Committee on University and Faculty Personnel at the May 21-22, 2013 meeting of the Board of Trustees.

On Jan. 16, 2014, Dr. Para stated in a campus email: "Following my original retirement goal, I do not plan to return to my position as provost when my term as interim president comes to an end. I expect to be working on campus through the end of the academic year."

On Jan. 29, 2014, CSU's Trustees announced that Jane Close Conoley, Ph.D. would become CSULB's new President and [CSU release text] "is expected to begin her new position in July." [emphasis added]

Since CalPERS calculates pensions using an employee's highest twelve-months of continuous salary, Dr. Para would presumably qualify for a lifelong pension based on his $90,000-boosted salary as interim president if he were to work beyond June 24.

In announcing his retirement plans, interim president Para said it had been a "gratifying and rewarding conclusion" to his CSULB career to serve as interim president.

LBREPORT.com has also learned that incoming CSULB President Close Conoley's salary will be $320,329, subject to approval at an upcoming meeting by the CSU's Trustees, a sum identical to that paid to interim president Para and former CSULB president Alexander.

An August 1987 L.A. Times story reported that then-CSULB President Steve Horn was paid an annual salary of "about $110,000."

...CSU is governed by 25 non-elected Trustees (24 voting, one non-voting). CSU's incumbent Trustees are listed at this link.

16 Trustees are appointed by the Governor (confirmed by the State Senate, serving eight year terms.) Five Trustees are ex officio members (the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the Assembly, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the Chancellor.) CSU's Statewide Alumni Council appoints an Alumni Trustee; the Governor appoints a Faculty Trustee (nominees proposed by the Statewide Academic Senate); the Governor also appoints two student trustees (who serve staggered terms, nominees proposed by the California State Student Association.)...

In July 2014, Ken Swisher (Ass't Dir. CSULB Media Relations) told LBREPORT.com that Interim President Para's last day would be July 14. CSU Trustees named Para CSULB interim president effective June 24, 2013 at an annual salary of $320,329 ($90,000+ higher than his previous salary of $230,004.) Since Para worked just weeks beyond the one year anniversary of his appointment, his new higher $320,329 salary became the new higher basis for his pension.

CSU campus presidents, basically high level administrators. are paid more to run their campuses than the Governor is paid as chief executive of California state government.