Wednesday, October 7, 2009

The Ivory Tower Aristocracy

I'm sure many of you have wondered, just as I have, how much the academic elites at Bowdoin College earn as they fill and mold the minds that arrive on their doorsteps with buckets of mummy and daddy's money, or more commonly a ticket to ride on the half billion dollar endowment train.

It turns out it's pretty easy to find out. A quick visit to this AAUP information site will give you all the information you could hope for.

At the site, you'll find that Bowdoin full professors average $129,000; associates average $90,000; and assistants average $71,000.

Not bad for barely nine-months of work, virtually total immunity from the state of the economy, and no doubt the nicest benefits packages you ever saw.

All this for working at a "non-profit" institution that pays little or no taxes on its extraordinarily valuable assets and real property.

Just 5 years ago, the Bowdoin numbers were $104,000, $75,000, and $59,000 respectively. No flat-lining here.

These figures beat out Colby and Bates by substantial amounts, and absolutely swamp the numbers at other state institutions.

In today's environment, one has to wonder when the eyes of government will decide to take an interest in "big education," and conclude that salaries need to be controlled. Or conversely, that government/congressional salaries need to be much higher.

I'm betting on the latter choice.

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