LEXINGTON, Ky. — University of Kentucky officials can't quantify Charles Wethington's work or accomplishments as a fund-raiser but say they are satisfied with the former president's efforts to earn his salary.

        But some have raised questions about whether Mr. Wethington's fund-raising is worth the nearly $400,000 a year in salary and administrative expenses that he costs UK at a time when its budget is strapped.

        “It's a terrible way to spend money,” said Joan Callahan, director of UK's women's studies department. “Why is this going on when the university can't give its faculty members raises?”

        UK President Lee Todd decided to give one-time merit bonuses of up to 3 percent instead of recurring raises this year because of state budget cuts.

        UK officials say there is no way to assess exactly what Mr. Wethington is bringing to the university in his new role.

        In the year since he left the UK presidency to become a fund-raiser for the school, Mr. Wethington has traveled from Boston to Florida pursuing potential donors, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported Sunday.

        “He has done everything we've asked him to do,” development director Terry Mobley told the newspaper.

        Mr. Wethington's role is to continue his relationship with major donors who gave during his presidency, Mobley said. But it's hard to judge a fund-raiser or assign one person credit for attracting specific gifts, he said.

        “It's not quite as simple as saying, "This is what he's brought in ...' but I would say it has been a good investment,” Mobley said.

        Wethington would not comment on his new job.

        An open records request to UK pertaining to Mr. Wethington's work yielded the following response: “Dr. Wethington advises that he has no phone records, solicitation letters to possible donors, appointments showing meetings with potential donors or e-mails from him or to his office.”

        The only records provided by the university were expense reports showing reimbursements for frequent meals for “fund raising and development” with past and present trustees and some local residents, the newspaper said.

        Mr. Wethington is supposed to report directly to Mr. Todd, who was unavailable for comment. Board of Trustees Chairman Billy Joe Miles, who led the effort to oust Mr. Wethington from the presidency, declined to comment on Mr. Wethington's work as a fund-raiser.

        Other trustees said they have not been informed of any of Mr. Wethington's activities in the past year.

        “It concerns me, and I would like to get an update on his activities and results of his activities,” said Alice Sparks, a trustee from Northern Kentucky.

        There is no evaluation process in place for Mr. Wethington, said UK vice president Jack Blanton.

        Staff trustee Russ Williams said he thinks fund raising is an appropriate role for Mr. Wethington, as long as he's regularly assessed.

        “Certainly there needs to be a level of accountability,” he said.

        UK has made fund raising a high priority, and the school has raised $472 million toward its 2003 campaign goal of $600 million.

        Mr. Wethington was praised as a fund-raiser during his tenure as UK president. In the wake of his departure from the top job, he received a two-year contract to do fund raising for the Capital Campaign he started in 1998.

        Some national experts say it's common for departing university presidents to take on fund-raising roles.

        “For someone who may have significant ties to the university to stay on and help with fund raising while the new president gets his or her feet wet, it actually makes a lot of sense at that level,” said Sheldon Steinbach, general counsel to the American Council on Education.

        “But each deal of its kind stands on its own two feet. Some are more generous and some are less.”

        Mr. Wethington's fund-raising contract calls for 5 percent raises every year. As of Monday, he will make $265,605, just $7,000 less than what Todd makes.

        The rest of the $381,300 line item in the UK budget includes the cost for a secretary and other expenses involving his office in the W.T. Young Library. After his two-year fund-raising gig is finished, the contract gives Mr. Wethington the option of becoming an associate professor at 80 percent of his current salary, which would be about $200,000 a year.

        The contract also gives him the use of a car, pays his expenses and pays his memberships in clubs and associations.

        Most of those expenses are paid by two discretionary funds.

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