???At a time when students are facing sudden tuition increases and poor post-graduation career opportunities, some UB professors are raking in more cash than ever before for positions they no longer hold.
???Former UB President William R. Greiner stepped down in 2004, but still ranks among the top 25 highest paid faculty members, bringing in over $225,000 annually, according to public data made available by the Albany Times Union. During his time as president, Greiner made $235,000 each year.
???Greiner currently teaches one class with the University at Buffalo Law School and is the highest paid law professor besides Dean Makau W. Mutua.
???The practice extends beyond former UB presidents.
???Former Dean of Medicine and Vice President for Clinical Affairs John P. Naughton stepped down from his administrative positions in 1996, but decided to stay at UB as a professor.
???Over 12 years after his resignation, Naughton was still the third-highest paid faculty member at the time the report was published last year, earning $310,263 as a professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, about $25,000 less than current Dean Michael E. Cain.
???Former Vice Provost Kerry S. Grant also no longer holds an administrative position, but still makes $174,254 every year as a professor in the Department of Music. He currently teaches two classes, one of which is a 100-level course.
???Charles J. Smith, the current chairman of the Department of Music, earns $80,625 in comparison.
???"These people are getting paid for positions that they no longer hold," said Gerald Finnegan, a professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance. "I'm sure they've done some very honorable things, but the whole process is very repugnant."
???Several past and present administrative members could not be reached for comment.
???"Who gets them [these salaries] and how it's set up, I really don't know," Finnegan said. "I know it's been going on for years. As to whether it is still going on or not, I don't know."
???Due to the New York budget cuts imposed by Gov. David A. Paterson, UB imposed a 45-day hiring freeze in August that was extended indefinitely in October. The university has not made any new hires since, aside from special circumstances.
???"They're talking about cutting faculty when that should be the last house on the street, especially when they are paying these people for doing the jobs that they're no longer doing," Finnegan said. "It certainly is not going to solve the fiscal crisis, but it's not something they should be doing when these people aren't poor."
???Paterson also proposed a $600 increase in tuition across the State University of New York (SUNY) system.
???"This is student money they are using to pay these people," Finnegan said. "Students should be mad about this. It's something students should look into."
???According to Finnegan, if this type of salary retention occurred anywhere else, it could possibly be illegal.
???"It's embarrassing, and if private industry was taking in state and U.S. funds... it would be setting up ghost jobs and it's highly illegal," Finnegan said.
???Finnegan also expressed concern about a new proposal written by local politicians in support of UB 2020. The UB 2020 Flexibility and Economic Growth Act, which will soon be sent to Albany for legislation, proposes changes in state policy to give the university more financial independence.
???"They want more financial autonomy, but it's obviously not a good thing to give them when they're running down doing things like this," Finnegan said.
???Telephone messages left for Greiner and Naughton were not returned.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
