In an era when college tuition increases outpace the rate of inflation and universities continue to rely heavily on the part-time professors who routinely make up 40 percent or more of their collective faculties, it’s alarming, if not surprising, to discover that the ten top-earning presidents of our public universities are raking in, on average, $648,233 a year (not including compensation from other sources, such as corporate board memberships and the use of presidential housing and transportation).

Meanwhile, adjuncts who enjoy eating regular meals are still boiling water for ramen. Given their present per-course rates of pay, they’d better. Based on data obtained by the Adjunct Advocate, part-time faculty at the ten public universities where presidential salaries top the hit parade are still grossing approximately $3,000 to $10,000 per course, often without benefits.

At the Ann Arbor campus of the University of Michigan, for example, President Mary Sue Coleman, the highest-paid public university president in the country, earns $724,604 each year, all of it derived from the university’s own budget. What seems unlikely, however, is that Coleman has to worry about the high cost of living in Ann Arbor. In a November 18, 2005 article, the Chronicle of Higher Education reported that Coleman also receives approximately $130,000 each year as a board member of Johnson & Johnson and Meredith Corporation. She also has the use of a house and car. Meanwhile, her Level I/II Lecturers earn $31,000 per year, or $7,750 per course, plus benefits. Some Ann Arbor lecturers actually earn less than parking attendants employed at the college.

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