After days of outrage over his near $1-million salary in 2014, Western University President Amit Chakma is taking steps to help the university "move forward."
In a statement released Wednesday evening, Chakma says he will will voluntarily refund payment he received in lieu of an administrative leave, which doubled his salary to $924,000. He says he will also forgo his right under his contract to receive payment in lieu of an administrative leave at the end of his second term.
Western’s Board of Governors also released a statement on Wednesday saying it has retained the Honourable Stephen T. Goudge, a former Justice of the Court of Appeal of Ontario, to conduct an independent and impartial review of Chakma's compensation.
"The board is keenly aware of the financial sacrifices that many students make in order to attend Western and expresses a deep appreciation of the dedicated faculty and staff who are dedicated to providing the very best in teaching and research, as well as to alumni for their support," says the board in the statement.
London's sunshine list, released last week, revealed Chakma was the highest paid public servant in the city in 2014.
Soon after his salary was revealed, an online petition surfaced calling for a non-confidence vote in Chakma and the Chair of Western’s Board of Governors Chirag Shah. The petition has since collected over 5,000 signatures.
The statement from the board says the university will not be commenting further on the issue at this time.
Dr. Chakma's letter:
- With files from Ashton Patis and Lisa Brandt.