A January 18 Sun article on salaries of higher education officials reported that I had refused to accept a deferred compensation payment (" State university presidents' pay in middle of the pack"). This is not correct. The Sun based this on information released this week by the Chronicle of Higher Education that shows that I received a deferred compensation payment in 2008 but not in 2009. However, this change actually stems from the University System of Maryland Board of Regents' conversion of my deferred compensation to a multi-year performance payment. If I leave before the end of my contract, I would receive no payment. If I complete my contract, the regents will determine how much, if any, of the payment I would receive based on their assessment of my performance.

William E. Kirwan, Adelphi

The writer is chancellor of the University System of Maryland.

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