Higher education’s highest paychecks include Vanderbilt administrators

Figures from non-profit report misleading, spokesman says

Vanderbilt University is home to some of higher education’s highest paychecks, according to a new study.

The Chronicle of Higher Education surveyed private college salaries for the 2006-2007 academic year and ranked four Vanderbilt administrators among the top 10 most highly compensated administrators in the nation.

Vanderbilt Chancellor Nicholas Zeppos — still a vice chancellor in 2007 — earned $1.04 million in salary and benefits that year, making him the best-paid provost, or chief academic officer, at a private university, according to the Chronicle’s list.

And he wasn’t even bringing home the school’s biggest compensation package that year.

Former chief financial officer Lauren Brisky earned $1.15 million, making her the second-highest paid financial officer at any private college in the country.

Harry Jacobson, vice chancellor for health affairs, earned a $2.5 million compensation package, while former executive vice president for clinical affairs Norman Urmy earned $2.3 million.

Vanderbilt officials are skeptical of the study’s numbers, which were drawn from the financial reports that colleges and other nonprofits must file with the Internal Revenue Service each year.

Vanderbilt medical center spokesman Joel Lee said Urmy earned nothing close to the seven-figure yearly figure the report credits him with — but he did retire in 2007, and the report probably reflects his entire benefits package.

As for Jacobson’s pay, Lee said the salary and benefits are in line with the compensation given to other administrators who run medical centers the size of Vanderbilt’s.

“He’s highly compensated, but he’s also highly competent,” Lee said.

The Chronicle surveyed salaries and benefits packages for more than 4,000 teachers and administrators at private colleges and universities nationwide, in response to criticism about the high pay grade some academics enjoy.