Cape Fear Community College President Jim Morton has announced a 2% raise for all full-time employees effective February 1st. The college’s Board of Trustees also awarded Morton close to a 10% raise.
Morton’s salary is now close to $286,000, which an increase of $26,000.
Board of Trustees Chair Pat Kusek says his raise is in part due to Morton not receiving a salary adjustment since 2018. And, she says, it’s also about increasing student enrollment:
“Last year, when community college enrollment dropped 5% statewide and 10% nationally, of course, due to Covid, ours was, actually in the fall of last year, ours was up 1.4%. In this spring semester that we’re in now, ours is down just less than half a percent.”
The Board of Trustees received criticism in the past for hiring Morton, who doesn’t hold a doctoral degree, at a higher-than-average salary -- and last January, WECT reported claims that he created a hostile work environment.
Board Member and New Hanover County Commissioner Jonathan Barfield wasn’t present for last week’s unanimous vote.