University of South Florida President Judy Genshaft's salary during the 2016-17 fiscal year placed her among the nation's top 10 highest paid presidents at public universities, based on data released from the Chronicle of Higher Education.
Genshaft's $1.2 million salary, which included a $500,000 one-time retention stipend, ranked seventh among 251 public university presidents.
Genshaft's base salary for 2016-17 was $493,500. She earned the retention stipend for completing a five-year contract. This year, Genshaft's base salary is $505,837 and she can recieve another $118,674 in deferred compensation and $300,000 in bonuses.
By Florida law, only $200,000 of Genshaft's compensation can come from state funds, said USF spokesman Adam Freeman.
USF's Board of Trustees Chairman Brian Lamb said Genshaft's salary is based on an evaluation of market research for univerity presidents and her past performance.
“The University of South Florida System is on an incredible upward trajectory, having recently set numerous institutional records in key areas of student success, research activity and fundraising," Lamb said. "None of these accomplishments would have been achieved without President Judy Genshaft and the leadership stability she has brought to USF since joining the university in 2000.”
The presidents of University of Central Florida and University of Florida were also among the top 10 highest paid in the 2016-17 fiscal year.
Retired UCF President John Hitt ranked sixth with $1.3 million and UF’s Kent Fuchs ranked ninth on the list with $1.1 million.
James R. Ramsey, the former president of the University of Louisville, was the highest paid with $4.2 million.
The numbers are broken down based on three categories: base pay, bonus pay and other pay.
Fuch’s had the highest base pay ($866,425); Hitt had the highest bonus pay ($655,475); and Genshaft had the highest other pay ($500,000 for the retention stipend).
The research also compares presidential pay to faculty salary and average tuition fees.
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