<p>The annual guide to university and college president's compensation was just listed by The Chronicle of Higher Education. Private school presidents generally make more than their public school counterparts.</p>
<p>For most art schools, the typical pay plus benefits for their presidents were between $225000 and $300,000 or so. Of all the art schools noted, only two were out of line.</p>
<p>The president of Art Center College of Design made $600,000, and the president of SCAD made OVER $1,000,000. In fact, Paula Wallace, the president of SCAD, made more than any of the presidents of any IVY school!</p>
<p>Interestingly, the article also lists total revenue for the school and total expenses. SCAD revenues exactly equaled their expenses at $140,000.000.</p>
<p>If you started a $140 million dollar company wouldn't you be entitled to a return on your investment. Plus, what are the revenues for the other schools? $1 million salary on $140 million ion revenue is the same as $300 thousand on revenue of $42 million.</p>
<p>The president built the school from the ground up using family money. Did the presidents of the other private art colleges invest their own monies, and sand their own floors, and paint their own walls? I'm sure some might like for SCAD's president to give back some of the monies to make tuition cheaper, or employees might like a bigger raise. But fact is that SCAD does offer very generous scholarship opportunities and started a profit sharing program after I left unfortunately. I sure would have liked that! Oh well.</p>
<p>Fact is that a $1 million salary is less than one percent of that school's revenues, if my math is correct.</p>
<p>Yes, they built it from scratch. Congrats. However, they are also making more than the president of Harvard! It is nice to know that student's money pays for their exorbitant salary.</p>
<h2>Yes, they built it from scratch. Congrats. However, they are also making more than the president of Harvard! It is nice to know that student's money pays for their exorbitant salary. </h2>
<p>The tuition is not out of line with the tuition at any other private art college. There are simply more students. What does RISD cost? What does SCAD cost? I don't know. Do the math and tell me if the students are getting ripped off paying SCAD tuition.</p>
<p>Also, you have no idea how much money the school gives back to the students. It was extremely generous as far as I could tell.</p>
<p>It’s very possible that Wallace recieved some kind of bonus or something along those lines this year, that inflated her salary well beyond it’s normal level. (Does anyone have figures for what she has made in previous years?)</p>
<p>Scad’s tuition is cheaper than many other art schools and they gave me more than twice as much scholarship money as any other school I applied to, so I don’t think her salary is hurting their scholarship funds too much.</p>
<p>/// Paula Wallace built nothing from scratch… check your facts because she aquired the university in a divorce /// - - College Truth</p>
<p>You are dead wrong. </p>
<p>Richard and Paula Poetter Rowan, started SCAD in 1978 using their money and elbow grease together, but were also funded/assisted by Paula’s parents, Paul and May Poetter. May Poetter worked for the college for many years. She is now retired. Paula’s sister, Pam, is the Vice President of Admissions. </p>
<p>At the start, Richard was made President and Paula became the Provost. After the Rowans divorced, Paula became President and remarried. Richard left Savannah for who-knows-where. Richard certainly was the guiding “force” behind SCAD’s early years, but it was/is largely a family business started and run by the Poetter clan. Today, Richard Rowan’s name is stricken from most every record of and reference to SCAD – except for the sign on Poetter Hall which describes the founding of the college by Richard and Paula Rowan.</p>
<p>I think the key question being asked here is, “Does Wallace deserve a return on her investment.” I think most would answer yes… If this were a for-profit company. Problem: Salaries are not the proper vehicle for investment-return; that is why shares exist. And, SCAD is legally designated as a non-profit.</p>
<p>Trust me on this… Both the IRS and SCAD’s regional accreditting body are going to do some serious eye-brow raising as a result of these reports. But, perhaps an even worst and more immediate result will be the demoralization of the hardworking faculty and staff @ SCAD who are sure to be dissapointed to learn of the disparities in pay that exist within their organization.</p>
<p>The comments reflect a lack of understanding on compensation in higher education. Universities the size of SCAD are complicated businesses and the job of President is very difficult. SCAD has over 10,000 students and an array of degree programs in the arts that no one other institution can rival. Her salary is what it is due to the success of the organization and the many years she has successfully led the university. There is “no return on her investment”. Many other successful private universities pay their President well. </p>
<p>Everyone acknowledges the success of SCAD, which is largely attributable to Wallace’s leadership. I have heard she works very hard. Looking at the growth in enrollment and reputation, I think she has earned her pay.</p>
<p>Regarding the recent article that has Paula’s salary at close to 2,000,000 and outs her stacking the ‘board’ with family - she deserves every grubby penny keeping the SCAD house of cards standing and growing. Also for wining and dining (and photographing) those who can prop up a self-perpetuated reputation.
Having taught there and escaped with my reputation intact it’s fun to see which of my former colleagues who are now stuck at SCAD for life weighed in on the wonderfulness of SCAD in the comments. Pathetic and very telling. Their immediate and over-the-top reaction to the criticism is typical of SCAD.<br>
Better schools - ones that have decades of results - don’t care what anyone thinks of them - the work speaks for itself - and SCAD work is mediocre.<br>
Feel sorry for the kids and their parents that have taken the bait. Sad puppet show.</p>
<p>LALondonNY - you copy/pasted the s.a.m.e. response in almost ten separate threads today, even resurrecting some “dead ones” about SCAD. It seems you are on a mission or have some vendetta? What’s up with that? And how are you truly an insider if you left?</p>
<p>Paula Wallace works tirelessly in fundraising for SCAD, is at all the important events(there are a lot) and lives in Savannah. An unmatched level of commitment in my opinion.</p>
<p>Although you can see it in many of their faces, none of the faculty will speak out against this lady. The lady that someone correctly pointed out lives in Savannah, except has a ridiculously huge and lavish office that takes up nearly a floor in the Atlanta building (complete with a balcony, tiki furniture, and palm trees). And you people really think she deserves that or that its a necessary use of my tuition?</p>