The top 10 earners, in terms of total compensation, among public college chief executives in 2012-2013:
1. E.Gordon Gee* - Ohio State University, $6,057,615
2. R. Bowen Loftin* - Texas A&M University at College Station, $1,636,274
3. Hamid A. Shirvani* - North Dakota University, $1,311,095
4. Renu Khator, University of Houston main campus, $1,266,000
5. Sally K. Mason, University of Iowa, $1,139,705
6. Michael A. McRobbie, Indiana University at Bloomington, $1,111,924
7. Michael F. Adams*, University of Georgia, $1,074,869
8. V. Gordon Moulton*, University of South Alabama, $1,072,121
9. Mary Sue Coleman, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, $1,037,357
10. Mark G. Yudof*, University of California system, $857,085
* -
no longer president at that institution
Source: The Chronicle of Higher Education
Former University of Georgia President Michael Adams total pay reached more than $1 million last year, making him one of the highest paid public college presidents, according to a survey by The Chronicle of Higher Education.
The annual survey, released Sunday, listed Adams' total compensation at $1,074,869, including a base pay of $258,670, and $800,000 in deferred compensation paid out. That's tuition for just more than 109 UGA students, the survey found.
Adams stepped down from the presidential perch at the end of June 2013 after 16 years leading the state’s flagship institution. His total pay includes a $600,000 one-time payment in deferred compensation as part of a retirement package. The large deferred compensation payment led to Adams’ ranking as the second-highest paid president in his peer institution group, with his overall pay increasing more than $433,000. Adams’ base pay actually declined more than $166,000.
The deferred compensation payment was part of a retirement agreement approved by the state Board of Regents that grants Adams $2.7 million over five years. That type of long-term agreement was similar to others approved by the state's University System that paid top college administrators after they had quit their jobs, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported at the time.
The Chronicle of Higher Education survey includes information from the 2012-2013 fiscal year on 256 leaders from 227 public colleges and systems. The list includes leaders whose tenures began or ended during the year, which runs from July 1 to June 30 at most colleges, resulting in more people than institutions.
Nine of the college leaders earned more than $1 million in total compensation, an increase from the four leaders who earned that amount the previous year. Overall, the typical public-college president earned $479,000 in 2012-2013, the survey found.
Adams ranked seventh among the top 10 earners of total compensation, behind presidents a colleges including Ohio State, University of Houston and Texas A&M.
At UGA, Adams’ total compensation was lower than that of head football coach Mark Richt ($3.6 million) and head basketball coach Mark Fox ($1.7 million), The Chronicle found. That pay difference follows a trend noted in the survey — that at many institutions, coaches top the pay list.
In some cases, The Chronicle noted, coaches’ salaries at public institutions are paid partly by athletic foundations instead of with taxpayer dollars.
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