CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The higher education chancellor in the state has a new three-year contract to continue serving in the role.
The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) unanimously approved the new contract for Chancellor Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker during its meeting Friday. Tucker received “very favorable” reviews during an evaluation by the HEPC and West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College (CTC) Education.
Tucker’s previous contract inhibited her ability to serve on national boards — the new agreement gives her the freedom to accept those opportunities. Her contract had already been approved by the CTC during its recent meeting. Tucker will begin her three-year extension on July 1.
West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission Chairman Michael Farrell said he and CTC Chairman Steve Roberts worked on the contract over a six-week span. Farrell said special focus was paid to what national standards were.
“The chancellor was eligible for a 20-percent increase in compensation,” Farrell said. “She declined that, recognizing the current fiscal situation confronting the state of West Virginia.”
Therefore, Tucker’s salary will remain the same.
Farrell said it was important to give Tucker an opportunity to lend her expertise at a national level.
“The chancellor is in high demand by national boards of various forms,” Farrell said. “And, we wanted to put in, very clearly, that’s merely a report of what she’s been asked to serve on, and that it’s not a disqualifier if there’s a conflict of interest with any of those, that we have a mechanism for addressing those.”
Farrell said Tucker’s performance has been unparalleled in all his years in higher education.
“I’ve got to say, in my many years of being involved in boards since 1997 or so, this chancellor has done more for higher education, and been recognized nationally by various organizations, than anybody else and maybe all of them combined,” Farrell said.
Before the contract was approved by the commission, Farrell offered his complete support of Tucker.
“We are very fortunate to have her, and we want to keep her,” Farrell said. “So, it is our very strong recommendation as the chairman of this commission and the CTC, that this commission approve this particular contract.”
Farrell said Tucker is “more than worth it” to keep around, mentioning that she’s turned down pay raises and more. He said that’s all because she cares about West Virginia and its students.
Tucker became the full-time HEPC Chancellor in June 2020 after beginning in an interim role in April 2019. Tucker attended Harvard University for her B.A. and received her doctorate and master’s degrees from the University of Michigan.