#Ex-SUNY Chancellor Malatras eligible for $450K ‘study leave’

State University of New York Chancellor James Malatras, who was forced to resign amid a cloud of controversy for his role in enabling ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, is eligible for a $450,000, year-long “study leave,” a copy of his appointment contract obtained by The Post reveals. 

The SUNY Board of Trustees is reviewing Malatras’ contract signed Aug. 31, 2020, when he was first appointed to the position, which says the SUNY boss could pocket his current $450,000 annual salary after leaving his chancellor post.

Once the year is up, he’ll also be eligible for a max $245,000-per-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. 

“The contract is being reviewed. It’s all being reviewed,” eoched SUNY Board of Trustees chairwoman Merry Tisch.

His resignation as chancellor 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 new documents released by state Attorney General Letitia James’ office showed he helped smear Lindsey Boylan — the first woman to publicly accuse the disgraced ex-governor of sexual harassment. 

Malatras slimed Boylan over a dispute about workplace issues in May 2019 — 18 months before Boylan 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 did apologize, calling his comments “inappropriate.”

The SUNY board’s actions are under the microscope after the Malatras debacle. Board members praised his tenure and opposed his resignation until the end.

Gov. Kathy Hochul initially took a hands-off approach regarding Malatras’ status, but then personally called Tisch, saying he had to go after more revelations about his poor treatment of subordinates were aired publicly.

Meanwhile, Malatras’ benefits package is raising eyebrows, as he served a little over a year of his five-year appointment, slated to expire in 2025. 

“There are often golden parachutes in upper administrator’s packages, but by SUNY standards that does appear a bit extra,” said Andrew Solar-Greco, 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 one-semester study leave and afterward signed on as a tenured professor for an annual salary of $245,000, according to Democrat and Chronicle.

Dr. Kristina Johnson — Malatras’ predecessor — left SUNY for another job at Ohio State University in 2020. 

Malatras also joins a list of people who lost their jobs after being named in James’ report and tied to the controversial efforts helping Cuomo, including:

• Josh Vlasto and Rich Bamberger, formerly of public relations firm Kivvit

• Time’s Up ex-CEO Tina Tchen and former board member Roberta Kaplan, and former president of the Human Rights Campaign Alphonso David.