He said the raises are considered "normal wage and salary increases" for the Montana University System. As such, he said, the board would not single out any one group or person for a pay freeze.

"They're all employees of the university system, and the board has an equal interest in recruiting and retaining all of our employees, regardless of job title," McRae said.

He also said salaries for top administrators and faculty remain low compared to national averages. Full professors earn an estimated 72 percent of the national average; the president earns 68 percent to 70 percent (salary plus other compensation); and other higher-paid administrators on campus can be as low as 60 percent of the national average.

However, McRae said UM's pay is competitive when it comes to recruiting classified staff. In those cases, it is competing against local agencies, and not national organizations.

Peggy Kuhr, vice president of integrated communications at UM, said the university continues to work on employee reductions, and it will report updated numbers once human resources and the president approve them. In November, the president announced the need to cut 201 positions, or full-time equivalents, including ones already vacant.