Times Union Features Dr. J’s Income
Another Times Union Headline for RPI
The Times Union must have it out for RPI… or at least have their eye on us. Last week, I reported that RPI made headlines a couple of times. I figured the TU probably got their fill, but I guessed wrong!
This morning’s Capital Region section of the Times Union features a headline that says “Board posts pay big” with the subtitle “RPI President supplements $1.6 million salary with $1.3 million serving on boards.”
This isn’t really news to RPI students, who have heard this number before. What is interesting is the following:
In the past, being a board member had been seen as a title rather than an actual job, according to the story. But the role of corporate directors has grown, and their duties average 225 hours annually. Directors attend an average of six board meetings a year, as well as other meetings.
RPI issued a statement defending the President’s record and pointing to her accomplishments during her tenure in office.
If Dr. Jackson serves on six boards (Public Service Enterprise Group, NYSE Euronext, Medtronic, FedEx, IBM, and Marathon Oil) at 225 hours apiece, that adds up to 1350 hours per year. A standard workweek (40 hours x 52 weeks) is 2080 hours per year. That leaves 730 hours, or 18.25 work weeks left for RPI.
Of course, we know that Dr. J works way beyond the typical 9-5, but it’s still food for thought.
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So what RPI is saying here is that Shirley Ann is worth $2100 an hour. $1.6 million / 730 hours = $2191.78/hour.
$1.4 billion raised in less than a decade for US. Research for US. Endowment money so I can go to school here. New spaces for US (EMPAC aside, haha). She deserves what she makes. Get over the fact that some people will always make more than you. Be happy for the success of others and that happiness will find its way back to you…
There is a difference between earning your worth and being outright overpaid. Shirley makes more money in one year than a normal person would know what to do with. Though I truly do appreciate everything she has done for RPI, Shirley’s salary alone is worth almost half of the salaries of the 100 people that were laid off last winter.