At least one person on campus has done well as the economy has declined: Public-university presidents’ salaries climbed 7.6 percent last year.
Fifteen presidents of public research universities took home at least $700,000 in 2007-08, up from eight in last year’s survey, and nearly one-third earn more than $500,000, according to the annual Chronicle of Higher Education survey out today.
The salary increases almost entirely reflect contracts signed before the economic downturn, and the boards that govern colleges argue that retaining top talent is even more critical during a crisis.
The median salary for public-university presidents is $427,400.
Gordon Gee of Ohio State was the highest-paid public- university president, earning $1,346,000, including a recently announced $310,000 bonus.
