RPI has once again placed near the top of a national survey. In fact, at the top. According to an annual study done by the Chronicle of Higher Education, President Jackson was the highest paid university president in the nation in 2002-2003, at $490,000 in salary, $39,915 in privileges including housing and a car allowance, and $401,400 in other benefits, a total of $931,315. The Chronicle estimated that Jackson also earned approximately $591,000 from her positions on various corporate boards in that time period.
Reaction to the announcement has been extremely mixed on campus, with students openly debating the issue. “No one can work enough to make that much money a year,” said sophomore Elizabeth Kelly. “Also, she’s always on the website for being elected to another organization, so she’s obviously not working just for RPI.” At $27,700 for tuition, that’s 18 students just to pay her salary, she pointed out.
Others, like Brent Austin ’06, feel that it is entirely appropriate. “She’s smart. She deserves it. She’s doing her job as president in addition to working on seven boards,” he said.
Professors, too, are weighing in on the topic, with some openly discussing it with their classes. “You shouldn’t come to a university to get rich,” scolded one professor who requested anonymity. “There should be some sort of higher calling. There are two things that bother me about this: one, that the trustees pay her that much, but they’re all CEOs and don’t know anything, and two, that she would accept it when we’re always told that there’s no money for educational supplies.”
Jackson’s office did not return phone calls requesting comment.
According to the survey, the next highest paid president is Gordon Gee of Vanderbilt at $852,023, followed by Judith Rodin of the University of Pennsylvania at $845,474.
The Chronicle’s survey from 2000-2001 reported that Jackson earned just $488,250 between salary and benefits that year, which shows a dramatic increase in her compensation during her tenure.
“I find it surprising that her salary has doubled, but the school isn’t going down the hill. From what I hear, she’s a workaholic, and if she earned it, then she deserved it,” said Jim Esson ’05.
Several alumni also voiced their opinion on the issue. David Eisenlohr ’76 said simply, “it makes you wonder why alumni need to give to RPI. It definitely sends the wrong message to potential donors.”
The Board of Trustees, which determines Jackson’s salary, stands by their decision. “In choosing Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, the board could not have chosen better,” Chairman Samuel Heffner told the Albany Times Union. “Under Dr. Jackson’s inspired direction, there is now a renaissance at Rensselaer of proportions not seen at the Institute in over 100 years.”
Grand Marshal Mike Borzumate agreed. “When you consider all the changes on our campus and all the things Dr. Jackson has planned for the future,” he said, “I think we’re getting a good value.”
The Chronicle’s survey is based on 2002 federal tax filings by 595 universities across the nation. According to the publication’s website, that number “includes private institutions classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as Doctoral/Research Universities-Extensive and Intensive, Master’s Colleges and Universities I and II, and Baccalaureate Colleges-Liberal Arts.”
In addition to her duties at RPI and her responsibilities to various off-campus groups, Jackson serves on seven corporate boards including AT&T, United States Steel, and FedEx, and recently left the boards of KeyCorp Inc. and Albany Molecular Research Inc. She was nominated last week to serve on the new oversight board at the New York Stock Exchange that was formed after protest over a $188 million compensation package given to former NYSE Chairman Richard Grasso.
