Princeton University has agreed to give $925,000 in back pay and at least $250,000 in future salary adjustments to female professors in an early resolution agreement after the Department of Labor accused the Ivy League school of pay discrimination, CNN reported Tuesday.
The Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) found 106 women in full professor positions at the university were paid less than their male counterparts between 2012 and 2014.
Princeton has also agreed to carry out statistical analyses to determine additional significant disparities against female professors, as well as pay equity training for its staff.
Princeton spokesman Ben Chang said, however, the university has not admitted liability and "continues to assert that it complied with both the letter and the spirit of the law," explaining the allegations against it were "based on a flawed statistical model that grouped all full professors together regardless of department and thus bore no resemblance to how the university actually hires, evaluates, and compensates its faculty."
Princeton added it accepted the agreement so it could avoid what would most likely be a costly and drawn out litigation process, according to NPR.
OFCCP director Craig Leen said his office is satisfied Princeton has "addressed the issues found in our review," emphasizing "early resolution conciliation agreements are an effective tool for contractors to ensure equitable pay to employees, enhance internal salary equity reviews, and proactively correct any disparities uncovered."
Brian Freeman ✉
Brian Freeman, a Newsmax writer based in Israel, has more than three decades writing and editing about culture and politics for newspapers, online and television.
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