By By Kayla Walker and Jamie Herzing

At a time when University professors are negotiating their salaries, it came as a surprise to University students and professors alike that President Stuart Rabinowitz was the highest-paid college president on Long Island during the 2003-04 fiscal year.

According to an annual survey released by The Chronicle of Higher Education, Rabinowitz’s total compensation was $507,788. Benefits and deferred compensation accounted for $91,234, making Rabinowitz’s salary for that year $416,554.

“I was surprised to hear how high [President Rabinowitz’s salary] was,” Peg Finucane, professor in the School of Communications and an American Association of University Professors Department Representative, said. “I’m more concerned now with how high other administrators’ salaries are.”

Students are also concerned.

“It kind of surprises me because Hofstra says it is less expensive as far as tuition for private institutions go,” Desireé Marshall, a senior anthropology major, said. “So if he is making more money than other presidents, I question exactly what our tuition pays for.”

The survey included 589 private colleges, 139 public campuses and 120 specialized institutions.

Just behind Rabinowitz is Long Island University President David Steinberg, who made $479,611 – $455,000 in salary and $34,61 in benefits. Adelphi University President Robert Scott earned $383,392 in compensation. Compensation includes not only salary, but also benefits, transportation and housing, among other perks.

Rabinowitz was the third highest-paid university president for the New York and Long Island area, behind New York University President John Sexton, who made $897,139, and Columbia University President Lee Bolliner, who earned $638,250, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education.

These salaries pale considerably to those of college presidents that managed to make more than a million dollars. President Donald E. Ross of Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla. was the highest paid university president with $5.04 million, $4.5 million of which was in deferred compensation benefits accrued in one year.

President Audrey K. Doberstein of Wilmington College in Delaware came in second with $1.37 million and Vanderbilt University President Gordon Gee rounded out the top three with $1.33 million.

“Honestly, I was surprised by how low it [Rabinowitz’s salary] was comparitively,” PeggyAnn Matusiak, senior support specialist of Honors College, said.

However, an April 2005 report by The Chronicle of Higher Education showed that national faculty salaries for 2004 had risen 2.8 percent that year, but failed to meet inflation.

“I hope [Rabinowitz’s salary] is worth it. I think he is still proving himself,” Bridget Matthews, a sophomore television and film major, said. “But if he is able to turn this campus around a bit, then I would say he earned that money.”

Stefania Ruggieri, a senior international business major, was not shocked when she found out Rabinowitz’s salary figures.

“I didn’t know what his salary was before, but I’m not really surprised to hear that figure,” she said. “He’s the president of an expensive, private university.”

Ruggieri added that she does not think students would be more accepting with the president’s earnings if they had a better grasp of the demands of his job.

“I don’t feel that it would make much of a difference, especially to those students who are most heavily taxed by University costs,” she said. “Anyone struggling with money issues is probably going to be skeptical toward the salary figures no matter what you do to convince them that they are merited.”

However, Melissa Connolly, Vice President of University Relations, offered many reasons why such a salary is, in fact, merited. She outlined Rabinowitz’s five-year plan to improve several aspects of the University and proceeded to explain many of his accomplishments since his 2001 induction.

In terms of improvements for University faculty and staff members, Rabinowitz installed 50 new full-time faculty employees. He also instituted the “Great Writers, Great Readers” series, this year’s Presidential Conference with Bill Clinton and established the new chair in Presidential Studies, Connolly said.

He also instituted a new Suburban Studies program that has sponsored two successful national conferences, new endowed chairs in both Catholic and Jewish studies, a grant writing stipend program for faculty members and new advisors in the pre-med department.

In an effort to enhance the student experience at the University, Connolly said that Rabinowitz has made great improvements in terms of campus technology. As of now, the University is almost completely wireless and expects to be fully wireless within the next couple of years.

Rabinowitz has also expanded the ability of Internet programs such as Blackboard and Web registration, created a “Task Force” which meets every two weeks to discuss student concerns and ways to improve the quality of student life and has made plans to refurbish several of the freshman residence halls.

He has also improved University facilities by making Hagedorn Hall a more capable station for the education department with the inclusion of Smart Boards and one-way observation mirrors.

Connolly added that he has plans to institute further parking areas designated for commuter students.

As a result of Rabinowitz’s work, the University now retains a fully digital language lab, two more engineering labs, a financial technology center and a new academic building currently under construction.

Connolly clarified a major aspect which separates Rabinowitz from many of his contemporaries whose salaries were set at a similar range.

“Along with their salary packages, many university presidents have the benefit of tax-free university housing which is provided for them because they are expected to entertain as part of their job,” she said. “Our president, however, sold his university house for $2 million, which he proceeded to donate to the endowment program and lives in his own residence.”

She also said that the Board of Trustees uses outside compensation sources when determining salary packages and that these sources have concurred that the president’s current salary is in line with what he should be making.

“President Rabinowitz’s salary reflects his strong leadership, talent, commitment and the significant improvements he has directed since he assumed the presidency,” John D. Miller, chair of the Board of Trustees, said in a statement.

He added that it is essential for the University to provide fair and competitive compensation to ensure that Rabinowitz continues the progress he has made in the past years in his unique position.

“His [Rabinowitz’s] job is a job like no other,” Connolly said. “It’s a combination of acting as chief executive officer and a chief fundraiser. It is a job that requires constant commitment and dedication.”