Makin’ bank

The Chronicle of Higher Education recently released its database of executive compensation at colleges and universities for the 2007-08 school year and Georgetown’s own John DeGioia isn’t doing too poorly for himself.

With a total compensation of $642,582 (that’s $607,939 in pay and 34,643 in benefits), DeGioia was the 63rd highest paid private university president in the country in 2007-08, according to the Chronicle’s data.  That salary was a $50,965 upgrade from what he received during the 2006-07 school year.

But DeGioia was outdone in the District by the president of American University, Cornelius Kerwin, who was the fifth highest paid private university president with $1,419,339 in total compensation.  The real record-holder, though, was George Washington University’s former president, Stephen J. Trachtenberg.  With a total compensation of $3.7 million, Trachtenberg was the high paid current or former university president by a margin of $2 million.

Photo by Lexie Herman.

The Georgetown Solidarity Committee just released an open letter to University President John DeGioia demanding better treatment of and higher salaries for Department of Public Safety officers.

The letter says that the recent hate crimes have revealed “a pervasive, historically rooted, and dangerous climate on campus” which is due in large part to “neglecting the well-being” of DPS officers.

The letter says that the DPS officers are paid roughly three dollars less than other campus security officers at other D.C. schools and the department is consequently habitually understaffed.  Solidarity is insisting on a four dollar raise over the next three years for current officers and “a fair staffing policy.”

According to the letter:

DPS Officers are the lowest-paid police in Washington, D.C. … SafeRides, escort services, and other safety systems are frequently understaffed and unable to provide sufficient services. These issues hinder the retention of employees and undervalue long-term officers with the experiential knowledge of Georgetown, which is essential to the trust needed between DPS and the community. This “revolving door” leaves the Georgetown community vulnerable to future incident …

Even in hard economic times, we must not compromise the respect, security and well-being of those charged with keeping us safe.

PayScale.com recently released the results of their survey of which college’s graduates earn the highest median starting and mid-career salaries, and Georgetown’s not doing too bad.  We have the 34th highest median starting salary and the 19th highest mid-career salary (defined as at least 10 years into their career or field).

Georgetown’s showing is particularly impressive given a couple quirks about the survey.  First of all, it only takes into account graduates whose highest degree is a bachelor’s, eliminating doctors, lawyers, et cetra.  Also, Georgetown only offers degrees in three of the 10 top-paying majors.

The two million dollar man

How much does a Final Four basketball coach cost? About $2 million, if the coach is John Thompson III.

In the 2007-2008 school year, Thompson made $2,007,508, plus more than $1 million in deferred compensation and benefits, according to university tax documents obtained by Vox.  Thompson’s salary rose by more than $1.3 million from the previous year, making him the highest paid Georgetown employee.

During the 2007-08 year, we also paid $3,074,487 to Payette Associates Inc., a firm whose website says they have been working on the “Science Facilities Master Plan and new Science Center” and $489,234 to Goody Clancy and Associates, the firm that worked on the new MSB building.  Overall, Georgetown’s net assets decreased by $55,772,042.

Who else besides JT III is making bank at Georgetown? Check out the top earners and the full tax document after the jump!

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