Overpaid College Presidents

Lafalum84 · 11-07-2009, 09:30 AM

College presidents are flunking the salary test - The Boston Globe

Quote:

The Chronicle of Higher Education, in its annual compensation survey, reported this week that the median pay for presidents at the nation’s major private research universities rose 15.5 percent in the fiscal year that ended in 2008, to $628,000. Overall median pay at 419 private colleges rose by a healthy 6.5 percent... the comfort for both pubic and private presidents bears no resemblance to the world beneath them. The American Dream is being fogged as parents drown in debt, students spend more time working to pay off campus fees rather than studying, and professors try to feed the brains of students with slashed resources. Yet, 23 private colleges now pay their presidents more than $1 million. None did so in 2002. The number of colleges charging more than $50,000 a year for a full ride multiplied by nearly 12 times in just the last 12 months, from five to 58.

sorghum · 11-07-2009, 12:01 PM

Quote:

the comfort for both pubic and private presidents bears no resemblance to the world beneath them

You couldn't pay me enough to be a "pubic" president.

starbright · 11-07-2009, 12:29 PM

You couldn't pay me enough to be a Dean, let alone a president, of any school. Not that I can imagine the justification for these salaries mind you. But I sure would not want those jobs either.

Lafalum84 · 11-07-2009, 12:58 PM

Ha ha, guess the Globe had a type-o, Sorghum!

I don't mind them being well-paid, they certainly do have a lot of responsibility and they are in the pubLic eye. But with the economic crisis many schools are facing, the crushing debt load of students, and the many cuts going on, it seems an obvious no-brainer for the President to at least take a pay FREEZE. But an average 15% INCREASE at research institutions, and 6% INCREASE at privates? Do these people take their public relations cues from AIG or something? Geez....

starbright · 11-07-2009, 01:19 PM

^Made me laugh

FallGirl · 11-08-2009, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Quote:
the comfort for both pubic and private presidents bears no resemblance to the world beneath them

You couldn't pay me enough to be a "pubic" president.

One reason I am "addicted" to CC is for my "laugh of the day".

Sorghum - today you provided that laugh

alwaysamom · 11-10-2009, 09:29 AM

Forget the college presidents, how about the college football coaches?

College football coaches see salaries rise in down economy - USATODAY.com

Insanity.

jessiehl · 11-10-2009, 09:50 AM

I don't have a problem with university presidents being paid a lot. They deserve to be paid a lot. They're basically running major corporations. Nor do I have a problem with their salaries having gone up since 2002. The cost of living has gone up since then.

I do have a problem with their getting enormous raises during a recession, while tuition continues to rise at tremendous rate (or their consistently getting raises that *vastly* outpace inflation). For example, Northeastern's president recently got a 25% raise. 25%! It has provoked some ire on campus (I'm a grad student there).

colmomto2 · 11-10-2009, 11:45 AM

Ooooohhh don't even get me started on university football coaches salaries. Some will argue that the programs are self-sustaining. I don't understand why the profits don't go to the academic functions of the colleges instead into the coaches pockets. If it weren't for the unversities, most of these coaches wouldn't have a team to coach. Some will say that college football binds the students of a university together. So, these students wouldn't make friends if it weren't for football? In my view, college football is really just a way for university presidents to own a football team without any personal investment. The profits should go back into the academic programs with the coaches receiving a reasonable salary.

University presidents are no better. It use to be that college presidents lived in the president's house, but no more. They use to be glad for the perk of having their housing provided for as part compensation for their work. Now, they want their "own" home, so the universities are paying for the upkeep of a house that nobody uses. I admit it is a tough job, but the salaries should reflect the health of the university. If the president gets a 25% raise, then everybody gets a 25% raise.

tsdad · 11-10-2009, 01:08 PM

John Wiley, the recently retired Chancellor of UW-Madison, and one of the lowest paid leaders in the Big 10, said that most months he worked 90 hours a week. He believed that presidents /chancellors were overpaid. I don't.