`Non-Profit' Columbia University Paid Professor $3.6 Million Annual Salary In 2005

Although Columbia University claims to be a “public charity” in its Form 990 financial statement for 2004, between July 2004 and June 2005, the Columbia Administration apparently spent a lot of money on budget items that most New Yorkers would not regard as morally legitimate charity expenditures. It spent over $37.7 million on “travel” expenses and $21.5 million on “fund-raising,” for instance; and the Columbia Administration paid annual salaries exceeding $1 million to at least five Columbia University professors.

Columbia University Clinical Professor of Dermatology David Silvers was paid an annual salary of over $3.6 million by the Columbia Administration, while Columbia University Professor of Medicine Jeffrey Moses was paid an annual salary of over $2.1 million. An annual salary of over $1.9 million was also paid to Columbia University Professor of Surgery Eric Rose, a salary of over $1.6 million was paid to Columbia University Professor of Surgery Mehmet Oz and a salary of over $1.5 million was paid to Columbia University Professor of Surgery Craig Smith by Columbia University between July 2004 and June 2005.

Although Columbia University claims to be a “non-profit” institution, its top administrators in 2005 were also being paid annual salaries that were higher than the salaries received by many executives at for-profit business corporations that are not exempt from corporate taxation like Columbia University.

Columbia University President Lee Bollinger, for instance, was paid a salary of $664,180 between July 2004 and June 2005, while Columbia University Senior Executive Vice-President Robert Kasdin took home a salary of $431,120. During this same period, Columbia University Executive Vice-President for Finance John Masten was paid an annual salary of $432,110, while another Columbia University Executive Vice-President for Finance, Al Horvath, was paid $335,516. In addition, Columbia University Provost Alan Brinkley was paid an annual salary of $396,250 between July 2004 and June 2005, while Columbia University’s General Counsel, Elizabeth Keefer, was paid $391,380.

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