Northern Essex Community College President Lane A. Glenn is up for a raise after receiving a positive performance review earlier this month by the institution’s board of trustees.
Trustees recommended Glenn, who currently earns about $205,000 a year, receive the “maximum available merit-based increase”—currently 1 percent—and other adjustments to his base salary. Evaluation committee Chairman Mark Forman said Glenn has given trustees “a lot to be proud of at this college.”
Forman told trustees of the college president’s successes include recruitment of underserved student populations, achieving the state’s top ranking in passing rates for the Licensed Practical Nursing program and ranking in the top third statewide for the annual number of not-for-credit job training courses.
The review was conducted by Forman and fellow Trustees Jeffrey G. Linehan, William D. Cox Jr. and Marianne Paley Nadel. The subcommittee met with Glenn, interviewed employees and students and judged whether Glenn’s performance aligned with the college’s strategic plan.
“I appreciate the confidence of the board,” Glenn told trustees.
In terms of serving traditionally underserved student populations, trustees said, Northern Essex has the highest percentage—at 42 percent—of Latino students of any state community college.
Among other milestones, according to the evaluation, are that Northern Essex became the first public college in the state to offer Competency-Based Education, received a nearly $200,000 grant for Early Childhood Education programs and increased Early College enrollment to nearly 500 students and generating more than $200,000 in income.
Trustees also said Glenn should receive a pay increase since he manages two campuses and is expected to become the most senior president in the community college system. He became president in 2011 after serving almost five years as vice president of Academic Affairs.
The maximum pay increase allowed by the state is 1 percent, according to Katy Abel, associate commissioner for External Affairs at the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education. She said the local board may allow up to half this amount and the commissioner decides the other half. It was unclear what other base salary adjustments local trustees may make.