Increased ed: High CUNY official will get eye-popping 16% pay bump, bringing wage to over $320K

The Metropolis College of New York is commonly generously known as “The Poor Man’s Harvard” — however perhaps not in the case of administrative salaries.

CUNY ‘s Board of Trustees on Monday evening permitted an eye-popping $320,681 wage for Gayle Horwitz, who was elevated to senior vice chancellor in addition to secretary to the board.

That determine on the public college far exceeds the $250,000 wage for Gov. Kathy Hochul and $258,000 compensation for Mayor Eric Adams.

Horwitz, who has held high posts at CUNY since 2016, noticed her wage leap from $267,628 — a 16% improve, data present.

Horwitz has lengthy been a confidante of CUNY Board chairman Invoice Thompson.

She was a high deputy to Thompson when he served as metropolis comptroller, and earlier when he was chairman of the New York Metropolis Board of Schooling.

Thompson introduced her wage hike — the merchandise added to the agenda on the finish of the CUNY board assembly.

One other CUNY administrator, Anne Fenton, noticed her wage leap 17% from $176,566 to $212,566 — a 17% improve.

“Let me thanks each for the work you do,” Thompson mentioned after the vote for the pay raises amid applause from the trustees.

However the hikes raised eyebrows.

“It doesn’t set the perfect instance for college kids struggling to make ends meet and full their training,” one state official, who requested anonymity, mentioned.

“There must be the next stage of sacrifice for folks in these positions and as a substitute use assets to assist college students of their quest for a level.”

Ken Girardin, director of analysis on the Empire Heart for Public Coverage whose “See By way of NY” web site posts authorities payrolls, mentioned, “Most college students at CUNY can solely dream of creating that wage.”  

CUNY defended the salaries.

“CUNY acknowledges that it should stay aggressive as a way to recruit and retain gifted employees,” a spokesperson mentioned.

“For almost a decade, by means of monetary challenges and a world pandemic, Gayle and Anne have been important to serving to the Board perform its fiduciary obligations, advance the reason for good governance and defend the College’s core dedication to equal entry and alternative,” the rep mentioned.

One other CUNY official mentioned Horwitz deserved the elevate.

“Gayle is likely one of the hardest working folks at CUNY,” the supply mentioned.

CUNY Chancellor Felix Matos Rodriguez makes $670,000.

Final week, CUNY entered right into a settlement settlement with the US Division of Schooling to resolve 9 discrimination complaints alleging antisemitism, Islamophobia and different harassment — many occurring effectively earlier than Hamas’ assault on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.