Western President to refund 2014 sabbatical payout
Posted Apr 1, 2015 06:17:33 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
President of Western University has decided to voluntarily refund the sabbatical payout he received from 2014 and will waive the 2019 payout for the same administrative leave.
The move comes after a week of scrutiny following the release of the 2014 Sunshine List that saw Chakma rake in a whopping $967,000. Chakma’s usual salary stands at $440,000, but because he worked through his sabbatical leave, he was given a double portion of his salary.
The following release was issued by Amit Chakma, just before 6 o’clock Wednesday:
Dear colleagues and members of the broader Western University community:
My employment contract with Western, executed in 2009, provided for payment in lieu of one year of administrative leave at the end of my five-year term. When I was reappointed, for the sake of continuity, I received payment in lieu of the administrative leave.
Although contractually sanctioned, in hindsight, I should have carried over my administrative leave to the end of my current term.
Today, Western’s Board of Governors retained the Honourable Stephen T. Goudge to conduct an independent and impartial review of my compensation. I am confident that Justice Goudge will complete a full and fair examination and I will whole heartedly cooperate. I look forward to his findings and intend to abide by his recommendations.
In the interim, as a demonstration of my commitment to Western and to address the concerns that many have expressed, I have decided voluntarily to refund the in lieu payment to the University. I have also decided not to exercise my right under the contract to receive payment in lieu of administrative leave at the end of my second term.
I hope the above actions will allow us to move forward.
The news of the payout caused an outcry from Western students and faculty, with many signing an online petition calling on university senators to bring a non-confidence motion against Chakma next month.
