WEBSTER GROVES 鈥 Around 150 Webster University students protested on Tuesday what they called a lack of accountability and transparency in college leaders.
Students, some who walked out of class, aired grievances for about an hour on the university quad.
They questioned pay boosts for Chancellor Beth Stroble and President Julian Schuster even as, they said, the university has cut student services and underpaid professors, who often work multiple jobs to make ends meet, they said.
鈥淭hings need to change,鈥 said student Max Florida. 鈥淲e have to hold them accountable.鈥
Webster University has lost $128 million over the past decade as student enrollment has halved.
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Its board of trustees, who are fiduciaries of the college, continue to award annual raises to Stroble and Schuster, who are among the highest paid university leaders in the region.
Stroble earns about $1 million a year; Schuster, $850,000.
University leaders have said that their plan to focus more on international students and science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs is already working to improve enrollment.
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This week, chair Sumit Verma said the board was working with Stroble on finding her successor, though he did not disclose a timeline.
On Tuesday, the Webster Student Coalition, which organized the protest, issued a list of demands.
It included a quarterly report on university spending; higher pay for faculty and staff; the restoration of student amenities like computer software and bus passes; public succession planning; and improved access to all buildings for students with disabilities.
Savannah Richey said she moved from across the country to attend Webster, where she studies costume construction. She has a disability and said she has had trouble accessing some buildings. On one occasion the elevators were broken, she said. She said she feels that the university doesn鈥檛 support her.
Another Webster student, Jenn Harry, said she was charged $4,000 for a student apartment despite filing paperwork indicating she took a gap year. She said it took about six months before the university refunded her the money.
After the protest ended, John Buck, Webster鈥檚 dean of students, came over to the students to congratulate them on the turnout. He said he planned to look into all of the issues students raised.
鈥淲e want transparency,鈥 Harry told Buck.
Patrick Giblin, university spokesman, said in a statement that Webster welcomes students鈥 thoughts.
鈥淚t is also the role of our leadership team to make decisions that are in the best, long-term interests of delivering value to all the students we serve,鈥 according to the statement. 鈥淭hat is why we have implemented a five-year plan that is working to increase enrollment and revenue, while it better positions us to meet the evolving needs of students.鈥
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