By Stephanie Petrellese

Adelphi University has agreed to pay more than $300,000, as well as other remedial relief, to settle a pay discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

According to the EEOC's lawsuit, a class of female full-time professors was paid less than male professors of the same or lesser rank teaching within the same school. This violation had been ongoing since at least April 2004, the EEOC said. The lawsuit was filed in 2007 on behalf of Judith H. Cohen, Ph.D., an Adelphi education professor and attorney who still teaches at the university.

"I am deeply gratified that having raised the issue of gender pay equity at Adelphi has culminated in such broad based and sweeping changes in how female faculty are and will be compensated at my university," Cohen told the Garden City News.

By the terms of the consent decree settling the suit, Adelphi agreed to pay $305,889 to 37 claimants, as well as salary increases for 30 claimants. Further, Adelphi agreed to comply with the requirements of the Equal Pay Act and Title VII. The decree also requires monitoring and training on anti-discrimination law for the following three years, in an attempt to prevent future pay discrimination.

"The fact that a substantial number of women faculty are receiving both salary increases and an award of back pay is well beyond the expectations for relief that I had when I first approached the EEOC about this issue," Cohen said. "I am also heartened that for the next several years the EEOC will play an oversight role in ensuring that gender pay equity remains a priority at Adelphi. I applaud the EEOC for recognizing the importance of the issues that were raised in this case and commend the Commission for all its fine work and effort in pursuing it through resolution.

"I want to especially acknowledge and express my gratitude to my attorney, Robert

Levy, who listened closely to what I had to say about the pay problem at Adelphi and has been a superb professional to work with through the several years it has taken to resolve the problem. Additionally, the AAUP chapter at Adelphi, especially Cathy Cleaver, the executive director of our chapter, has likewise been supportive and steadfast in the belief that Adelphi women are entitled to fair treatment and pay equity.

"I look forward to the day when women faculty receive equal pay for equal work on college and university campuses across the United States. There certainly is more work to be done, but this settlement represents a significant step in the right direction."

Pay discrimination by gender violates the Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EEOC filed the suit in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (EEOC v. Adelphi University, No. 07-CV-4001).

Kali Chan, Adelphi's media relations director, released the following statement to the media: "Adelphi University is pleased to reach a voluntary resolution to this matter. This negotiated settlement enables us to close this matter without prolonged and costly litigation. Consistent with the resolution, the University admits no wrongdoing and will continue to adhere to policies based on fairness and equity. The University was founded upon the principles of opportunity and equality and remains steadfastly committed to these values."

The EEOC is responsible for enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. "Working women should never be shortchanged by receiving unequal pay for performing equal work," said EEOC Acting Chairman Stuart J. Ishimaru, who noted that the agency receives upward of 5,000 wage bias charge filings nationwide each year under all the statutes it enforces. "The EEOC intends to enhance enforcement in this area by focusing on systemic cases, in addition to increasing public outreach and education."