GOLDEN ’CHUTE AT SUNY
Malatras may get 450G+
Former SUNY Chancellor ames Malatras, who was forced to reunder ign a cloud of controversy for his role in enabling former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, is eligible for a $450,000 yearlong “study leave,” a copy of his contract obtained by The Post reveals.
The State University of New York Board of Trustees is reviewing the contract, which was signed on Aug. 31, 2020, when Malatras was first appointed chancellor. It says he can pocket his current $450,000 annual salary after leaving the post.
Once the year is up, he’ll also be eligible for a maximum $245,000per-year faculty post, akin to the “highest salary” in SUNY’s Department of Social Science or Public Affairs at Empire State College, plus state retirement benefits.
“All matters related to the contract of Jim Malatras are currently under review by the Board of Trustees,” SUNY spokesman Leo Rosales told The Post.
And SUNY Board of Trustees Chair Merryl Tisch said: “The contract is being reviewed. It’s all being reviewed.”
Malatras’ resignation is effective on Jan. 14, and the board is looking for an interim replacement.
Malatras, a Cuomo loyalist, stepped down last Thursday following pressure from SUNY students, faculty and elected officials after documents released by state Attorney General Letitia James’ office showed he helped smear former Cuomo aide Lindsey Boylan, the first woman to publicly accuse the ex-governor of sexual harassment.
Malatras slimed Boylan over a dispute about workplace issues in May 2019 — 18 months before she accused Cuomo of harassment, according to interview transcripts released by the AG’s Office.
In one text to Cuomo staffers, Malatras wrote: “Malatras to Boylan: Go f- -k yourself.”
“Let’s release some of her cray emails!” he said in another text.
Malatras has apologized, calling his comments “inappropriate.”
Gov. Hochul initially took a hands-off approach on Malatras’ status but then personally called Tisch, saying he had to go.
The benefits package is raising eyebrows, as Malatras served only a little over a year of his five-year appointment.
“There are often golden parachutes in upper administrators’ packages, but by SUNY standards that does appear a bit extra,” said Andrew SolarGreco, president of SUNY Stony Brook United University Professions, the campus faculty and staff union.
“This is also an issue since most SUNY adjuncts don’t earn a living wage — often only $3,000 per course taught — and have little to no job security and no payoff like Malatras.”
Ex-SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher similarly got a nice deal as part of her resignation. She received her $504,700 chancellor salary for a onesemester study leave and afterward signed on as a tenured professor for an annual salary of $245,000, the Democrat and Chronicle reported.
Dr. Kristina Johnson, Malatras’ predecessor, left SUNY for a job at Ohio State University in 2020.