A record 23 private college and university presidents received more than $1 million in total compensation in fiscal 2008, according to an analysis of the most recently available data published Monday by the Chronicle of Higher Education. A record one in four in the study of 419 colleges' mandatory IRS filings made at least $500,000.
Topping the list is Shirley Ann Jackson at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., whose compensation the Chronicle pegged at nearly $1.6 million. She was followed by David Sargent at Suffolk University in Boston, who made $1.5 million. However, one-third of his compensation had been reported as deferred compensation last year and counted as salary this year - an example of the difficulty of making straightforward compensation comparisons.
Overall, median compensation for the group increased 6.5 percent to $359,000, and 15.5 percent at major private research universities, to $628,000. The figures essentially cover the 2007-08 academic year.
Those averages have almost certainly flattened or perhaps fallen since, with numerous presidents, including Jackson, taking pay cuts amid widespread budget-cutting.
BAY AREA LIST
Ronald L. Vaughn, president of the University of Tampa, was the highest earner among the leaders of three private Tampa Bay area colleges included in the Chronicle of Higher Education report.
Vaughn's compensation totaled $601,067 in fiscal 2008, the analysis said. Pay accounted for $374,780 of the total, and benefits for $226,287.
Arthur F. Kirk Jr. of Saint Leo University in Pasco County ranked second in the Bay area, with total compensation of $555,436.
Donald R. Eastman III of Eckerd College in St. Petersburg was third at $413,602.
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