By Brian Bohl

As Adelphi University faces a sex discrimination suit for allegedly paying full-time male professors more than female counterparts, recent figures for the University show no signs of salary disparity between the genders.

Members from both the University administration and the faculty union said the current pay structure does not favor a particular sex, but rather is influenced by a range of factors such as education level and experience. These comments come nearly a month after Adelphi, based in nearby Garden City, became the target of a lawsuit from the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

In 2006, salaries for male professors averaged $107,081, slightly less than $6,000 more than females, according to figures released by the University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors union. For instructors, the lowest level of faculty classification, women earned more than $11,000 more per year than men, while wages for assistant professors were nearly identical.

“The differences are influenced by seniority, years in rank, department/division and years since highest degree,” said Professor Lonnie K. Stevans, who conducts the union’s equity analyses. “I found that once you control for these influences, there is no significant difference between average male-female faculty salaries at Hofstra.”

Professor Estelle Gellman, who also serves as the union president, said salary inequality was major problem in 1991, but added that contract negotiations have eradicated the discrepancies.

“We had a gender disparity in 1991 but, after the equity adjustments negotiated in the 1991, 1996 and 2001 contracts, the disparity between males and females has been remediated,” Gellman said.

The University released an official statement through Stu Vincent, the vice president for University Relations, stating that the administration works with the AAUP about any salary adjustments. In the past, contracts have allowed for such modifications to compensate for gender inequities, leading to the current salary levels (see chart).

“Hofstra has a predetermined and deliberate process that analyzes whether compensation within schools and departments is equitable and provides funding to adjust salaries if appropriate,” according to the statement. “The AAUP participates with Hofstra in this process. During the last review, we applied the structured analysis provided for in the contract and it was noted that no gender-based salary adjustments were necessary based on the formula agreed to by the University and the AAUP chapter.”

The disparity decreased further from 2004-06. Women closed the gap or improved in salary advantage in the four faculty classifications: instructor, assistant professor, associate professor and professor.

“You have to take into consideration other factors such as highest degree, years since degree was granted, rank, years in rank, years of experience, discipline, etc.,” Gellman said.

“It is not inequitable, for example, if a female professor just out of school with a brand new degree is making less than a male with 15 years of experience. Taking those factors into account, the disparities disappear.”

University professors are paid according to their position regardless of sex. (Stephen Cooney)