Wow. Ohio State U. prez earns a million a year and UVA's prez over $700K, plus housing!

[Captain Hilts]

I'll admit, I'm shocked. Wow.

And these are PUBLIC, taxpayer-supported universities.

[MineralMan]

1. Shocked? Wait 'til you see what their football coaches earn.

Seriously.

Ohio State's head coach earns $3.5 Million a year.

[Freddie Stubbs]

3. Football programs often generate revenue for colleges

[MineralMan]

4. Bovine excrement.

It demonstrates that athletics trump academics at these powerhouse schools. They serve as little more than a farm system for the NFL.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

13. My guess is that Tressel and his staff work much harder than most of the teaching faculty.

He likeley generates more in the way of enrollment for the school than other individuals as well. Having played NCAA football myself, the staff and especially head coach are under a tremendous workload and the stress to perform or leave is also prominent. Coaches that consistently win bowl games get million dollar contracts because the schools generate self-sustaining revenue and (more imprtantly) popularity from that coach's performance. National expsosure for universities is paramount to them generating enrollment and diversity in upcoming years.

If you feel athletics is given priority over academics... blame The People. When 80,000 fans show up for a football game and millions tune in to watch on television, I would they are the ones empowering the concept you seem to deride.

[MineralMan]

15. Ah, I see. So you think taxpayer funds should pay for

a farm system for the NFL? OK. I understand.

And, thanks for your guess. Guessing is fun.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

29. School athletic programs generate a lot of national exposure the universities involved.

National exposure for schools is invaluable. Universities can't do much without strong enrollment.

THAT is what I said. Try reading next time - I assume they taught reading comprehension at the university you attended?

[MineralMan]

40. Name one major state-run school, great football program or not

That has a shortage of applicants for admission. One. Trust me, you will not be able to do so. Private schools...no problem. I don't care how they spend their money, since it doesn't come from taxation.

But state-run schools? They all have way more applicants than they can accept. And that's with any level of football program.

You're way off base with this.

[GoCubsGo]

57. Yep. My undergrad school didn't even have a football program

And, their basketball program sucked. Yet, they still managed to attract nearly 16,000 students.

[MineralMan]

58. Most students do not go to a college or university because it

has a good football team. They go because they think that if they get a degree they'll make more money. It's that simple. A few go for sports, and a few go because they truly want to learn. Most care about neither.

Having T.A.ed at a large state school, I can vouch for the non-concern about really getting educated on the part of most students.

[Captain Hilts]

61. Mine just got football. Ugh! We had national champs in women's basketball, sailing and field hockey

[Blue_Tires]

6. many big-name football programs operate at a break-even point or slight loss

and the revenues they do generate are usually just for the athletic department...

[Captain Hilts]

12. MOST break even or lose money. nt

[MineralMan]

20. And that's just at the top-tier schools.

Personally, I think the NFL should pay the football coaches at the major university programs they use as a farm system. Let the NFL set their salaries and pay them.

Some suggest that a strong football programs attracts excellent students to the University. I hear people who are heading for college all the time to study, say Economics or Pre-Med saying that they're going to the U. of Misery because they've got a great football program. Yup. It's a major enticement.

[Captain Hilts]

21. Correct. The top Div. 1 don't even all make money. Below that, it's even less likely. nt

[MineralMan]

30. True. There are a few big schools that turn out huge

fan bases to pay for all this, but most schools struggle with their Athletic Department budget. Football fans like football. Everyone else? Not so much. And, when the team's floundering, the fans stay away.

Here, at the U of Minnesota, they (spell that "we, the taxpayers") built a nice, expensive new stadium. The team, sadly, isn't doing all that well, and the stands were never more than half full, once the season opening game was played.

Now, Minnesotans have a winning NFL team that has a decent chance of a Superbowl game. The Vikings want the taxpayers to front 75% of the cost of a $1 Billion stadium. If they win the Superbowl, it's likely they'll manage to get it, too, despite the overwhelming lack of support for it by the majority of taxpayers.

I like to watch sports. I hate paying for professional sports stadia and for huge salaries for college football coaches at public universities. Just doesn't seem right, somehow, when we have people living on the street and a large population segment going without healthcare. Maybe it's just me...

[GeorgeGist]

62. Most of which is kept by the Atheletic Dept.

[SteppingRazor]

2. Meh. They're also massive bureaucracies, often the largest employers in their regions.

If you want to talk overpaid, how about the fact that Ohio State's head football coach makes about twice what the president makes?

[doc03]

5. What about the CEO's of charitable or religious organizations

that make a million? What I don't understand is how they can get by on as little as that.:sarcasm:

[MineralMan]

7. UVA just canned their football coach.

He had two years remaining on his contract, so they're paying him off with $4.3 million. Not bad pay for losing your job. The next coach will, no doubt, earn at least three times what the President of UVA does.

Doncha just love it?

[Captain Hilts]

10. It's obscene that taxpayers pay for this crap. nt

[GoCubsGo]

33. No, what's obscene...

...is that most of the taxpayers are more concerned about the university's damn football and basketball programs than they are about academics. Here in South Carolina, the football coaches at the two largest schools here each make over a million dollars a year, which is triple what the university presidents make. Nobody complains. It's the same thing next door in Georgia (Vince Dooley, anyone?). As long as the football teams and basketball teams do well, most of the taxpayers don't give a shit about the schools otherwise--except to begrudge those trying to educate their children a decent wage and a decent environment to work in.

[Captain Hilts]

63. I almost did grad work at USC. Whew! Close call!

Went to UToronto instead!

[ixion]

8. Administrators are the sole reason for increased tuition costs

for the most part. It certainly isn't going to the library or the professors.

[SammyWinstonJack]

14. Whatta country!

:puke:

[GoCubsGo]

17. Bullshit.

I worked for a large state university for 20 years. I know several professors who make well into the six-figure range in salary. And, they don't run what is basically a small city. Ohio State has some 60,000 students enrolled. That's twice my hometown's population. They employ nearly 20,000 non-academic staff (janitors, secretaries, lab technicians, book store workers, cafeteria staff, etc.) Other large universities are no different. What OSU's President is getting is a bit excessive, IMO, but university presidents deserve more than the chump change many want to give them.

Administrators are NOT the "sole reason" for increased tuition costs. Buildings and the grounds require upkeep. So does the equipment. Parts and labor cost more and more every year. And, yes, the libraries in most universities DO get upgraded. Staff need to be paid, and they deserve a cost of living raise every year.

[Romulox]

23. My local mayor doesn't make anything like 1 mil, and my city is much larger than 60,000.

:hi:

[GoCubsGo]

34. Most university presidents don't make anywhere near a million dollars

The OSU president is an exception. And, a large chunk of that is perks, like housing and a car.

:hi:

[Romulox]

42. Maybe, but the President of my land grant makes $750,000.

There is really no logic to defend these salaries, save the "old (person's!--Mary Sue Coleman is a woman, after all) club.

[GoCubsGo]

47. I wasn't defending the salaries.

I was pointing out that there is far more to the tuition increases than the president's salary, which is what the other poster was insinuating. I think most of them make too much, as well, but I also don't think that people understand the difficulty and complexity of their jobs.

[iceman66]

26. The POTUS makes less than these university presidents,

let alone as mayor or even a governor.

Your analogy is flawed.

[Captain Hilts]

28. AND their football coaches. nt

[GoCubsGo]

41. A false comparison.

The figures for the university presidents include such things as housing, retirement packages, and car allowances. Their actual salaries of most are comparable to what the POTUS makes (and he is underpaid, IMO.) Yu are not including all of his perks, such as his housing, security, transportation, etc., as you are with university presidents.

Most of them are turning down bonuses, etc. See/listen here: http://www.kcbs.com/Public-University-Presidents-See-Halt-to-Lucrative/6143825

Look, I agree that they are being overpaid, but I was responding to someone who said they are the only reason tuition costs are going up. As I already explained, that is not the case.

[Romulox]

44. The IRS counts all that stuff as "compensation"--so do I.

:hi:

[GoCubsGo]

49. Goody for them

The IRS is not posting here conflating "compensation" with "salary" as others here are.


:hi:

[Hannah Bell]

72. hey, we're probably going to be taxed on our healthcare packages.

those perks cost money, they're part of the pay package.

[raccoon]

19. It's not going to the rank and file, I can tell you that. nt

[Captain Hilts]

22. And, these days, nearly HALF of all classes are taught by part-time, short term or TAs. They don't

want to pay real, tenure-track professors.

[raccoon]

31. Amen to that. I work at a community college, and a woman in HR told me that 50%

of the employees here are part-time, no benefits, including yours truly.

I've said that before in here, but I'm saying it again because many people are still under the mistaken impression that jobs with the state/county/city have good benefits. Sure they do, if you're one of those fortunate enough to have them.

[Captain Hilts]

35. Academics should join SIEU because they have the same problems. nt

[raccoon]

36. Alas, this is a dumbass "right to work" state. nt

[Captain Hilts]

38. I lived in VA FAR longer than I wanted to. It was great escaping to Toronto, then DC/MD. nt

[Romulox]

24. Yep. These PUBLIC employs live like kings while kids can't afford to go to school. nt

[MelissaB]

67. You guys are using a broad brush stroke to paint all university presidents as making

that much money, and it isn't true. I know because my husband is a VP/Provost of a university, and this isn't the first university he's worked.

[Romulox]

74. I only know about my alma maters, and this criticism applies to both. nt

[jakefrep]

78. I doubt it.

Gee's salary at Ohio State works out to about $20 per student per year. That's pretty tiny compared to a tuition of $10K+/year.

[hfojvt]

9. to be fair - they have to pay that

everybody knows you can't get or keep a quality person if you only pay $400,000 a year. What kind of an idiot is gonna work for a pittance like that?

[Captain Hilts]

11. Aren't there seriously diminishing returns on your salary $ after, say $300K?

I would think so.

[MineralMan]

16. Me! Me! I'll work for that, and donate half to charity.

Can I run a University the way most U. Presidents do? Sure. I can eat lunch, host fundraisers, and I'm a pretty darned good public speaker, so I've got it handled. My assistants can do the heavy lifting and I'll make nice with the rich alums.

My application will be in tomorrow.

[hfojvt]

39. I have always wanted to follow one of those muckities around for a week

to see if their job is really as difficult as they pretend it is, like only a super-skilled person can do their job and thus they earn their super-pay. I usually think it works like you say, that basically a fifth grader could do it, but it's possible that it requires more knowledge, skill and hard work than I give it credit for. Heck, it often seems like 3/4 of my co-workers can't even do a janitor's job right, or don't care to try.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

53. My wife is an OSU graduate...

I'm a proud drop-out, but I sneak a peak at her alumni magazine every now and then.

They had an article some months back where the writer followed Gee around for a day. According to his report, and confirmation by Gee's staff, he keeps a schedule that would probably kill a man half his age. Bear in mind that Gee is a widower with a grown child, so he pretty much throws himself into his work -- guy has visited every county in Ohio at least once.

Based on what he does and the results he generates, I don't think his salary is excessive.

[Captain Hilts]

59. No one's saying it's not a tough job. But, this is taxpayer money. What are the returns to folks

in Lima, Ohio?

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

64. Actually, there's an OSU campus in Lima, OH

And as I said downthread, this guy has been like a human cash register for the university. He's raised tens of millions of dollars for the university endowed fund -- which supplies scholarships to students, including those in Lima.

Regarding your post that a University President shouldn't be paid more than a Governor, remember that being elected governor has nothing at all to do with one's actual competence and capability (Sarah Palin) while being a University President is all about what skills you bring to the institution.

[uponit7771]

69. Relative to the cost of tutition it sure in the heck is...college isn't affordable because of these.

..salaries

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

75. College tuition isn't affordable....

because we spend more on prison construction than we do on higher education.

[uponit7771]

68. I know PLENTY of quality people who would do that job for lessn than half of that amount trust

[raccoon]

18. Yep, they got the do-re-mi to give to the big shots, and hire numerous big shots,

but when it comes to the peons, it's another story.

[Captain Hilts]

25. What does the VA taxpayer get out of paying him so much?

[raccoon]

32. A highly paid college prez? :silly: Them that has, gets. nt

[Captain Hilts]

37. Yes. I went to a diff. U in VA and we could barely keep TP stocked in the bathrooms.

I scratched and bit and got into a prestigious graduate school and, you know what? The master's degree I got in VA was a great education and had me well prepared to duke it out with the Ivy Leaguers I sat with in graduate school.

And my U prez didn't get paid that kind of salary.

[Romulox]

27. Consciously or unconsciously, it's about tapping into the culture of the elites...

That's why the obscene salary--it's the price of entry into the "club".

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

43. The guy runs an organization with 25,000 employees...

The research operations at OSU bring in more than a half BILLION a year and Gee personally is a significant driving force behind the increased endowment at Ohio State, which is now at more than $2 Billion.

Seriously? For what the guy does, he's a friggin' BARGAIN.

And you can't say that he doesn't look totally kick-ass in that bow tie!

[Romulox]

45. Always a champion of the elites to be found here on DU. nt

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

50. What the hell does THAT mean?

Based on the average salary for a CEO, a million per year is not a hell of a lot of money. If Gee were a second baseman hitting better than .250, he would be earning ten times that amount.

Lighten up, Francis.

[TreasonousBastard]

46. Just out of curiosity, how much SHOULD...

a university president make?

[Captain Hilts]

48. No more than the governor of their state. nt

[MineralMan]

52. There ya go.

[YOY]

54. +1

n/t

[uponit7771]

70. +1

[rucky]

56. Not a million.

I like the Ben & Jerry's rule that limits exec pay to, I think, about 10 times the lowest-grade pay in the company.

[jgraz]

71. Yep. If they can't get by on that salary, maybe they aren't bright enough to run a university

[Romulox]

60. Universities, as non-profit public entities, should be held up to the same scrutiny as any charity

I wouldn't donate to a charity with more than 10% overhead...

[YOY]

51. I wonder about Kent State's president.

She was worthless (the one that was there 10 years ago) and trying to make us into Ohio State Jr. I assumed her pay was astronomical as well.

[rucky]

55. WTF?

Why isn't anybody looking into this stuff, as tuition rises way above inflation every year?

you don't have to answer that, btw

[change_notfinetuning]

65. What coaches and pro athletes earn is part of the problem, not a defense of

what college presidents earn. But that's a whole other thread.

[Captain Hilts]

66. VA should deduct the diff between UVA prez's salary and Gov's salary from its $$ to the U. nt

[Hannah Bell]

73. link

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Ohio State University is No. 1 again, but not in football or basketball. For the second year in a row, the school's president was the highest paid public university executive in the United States, according to a study published Monday.

The Chronicle of Higher Education said E. Gordon Gee, Ohio State's president, took home $1.6 million last year, up from $1.3 million in 2008.

Facebook Digg Twitter Buzz Up! Email Print Comment on this story

Mark Emmert, president of the University of Washington, was the second highest paid executive in the survey, with total compensation of more than $900,000 last year. Patrick Harker, president of the University of Delaware, came in third with more than $810,000 in total income.

The Chronicle, a Washington-based publication focusing on education, surveyed total compensation -- defined as salary and benefits -- for top executives at 185 public universities..

Gee is the only public university president to have earned more than $1 million last year. By contrast, The Chronicle reported in November that 23 presidents of the nation's top private universities took home more than $1 million in 2008, the most recent year surveyed.

http://money.cnn.com/2010/01/18/news/economy/university_executive_compensation/

[Captain Hilts]

76. Thanks HB!

[RedCloud]

77. Heaven forbid liberal institutions make healthy salaries.

:crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: