Do Colleges Face “Public Relations Hit” Over High Paid Presidents?

The Chronicle of Higher Education released updated data today on compensation for college and university presidents. A record 23 presidents received more than $1 million in total compensation for fiscal 2008. “…colleges will have to absorb the public relations hit that comes with offering seven-figure compensation to an academic leader,” wrote the Associated Press‘ Justin Pope.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute president Shirley Ann Jackson topped the list with compensation of $1.6 million. Theresa Bourgeois, Assistant to the President for Media and Public Relations at RPI told PRNewser that Jackson’s salary “is a reflection of her achievements…over last ten years since she has become president she has led an extraordinary and unprecedented transformation of the institute. The value she contributes to the Institute far exceeds the amount she is paid.”

Bourgeois also noted that Jackson gave back 5% of her salary to a scholarship fund, successfully led a $1.4 billion capital campaign and has seen the institute’s value double after $690 million in new construction. RPI understandably seems be getting a lot of calls over the report, as they had a full statement complete with Q&A at the ready.

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