IU president Pamela Whitten will receive a $162,500 bonus for her first-year performance as university head.
The IU Board of Trustees unanimously voted Friday to award Whitten the annual performance incentive, which is a quarter of her salary. Whitten made $650,000 as president for the 2021-22 school year.
“She has by far fulfilled the goals that were set forth by her and the trustees jointly,” said trustee Dr. Michael Mirro. “[She’s] exceeded those goals by far.”
Whitten took over the role last summer after longtime IU president Michael McRobbie retired. She is the first female president in university history and pledged to prioritize enhancing the student experience, research and scholarship and service to the state during her time as president.
In Whitten’s first year, IU announced a $30 million investment to recruit a more diverse pool of faculty and staff members. Board of Trustees chair Quinn Buckner in an interview with WFIU/WTIU News praised Whitten’s communication skills, warmth and authenticity.
But the last year has not been without controversy.
READ MORE: President Whitten's first year: Focus on students, discontent over union
A law professor discovered IU’s trustees did not follow protocol in choosing Whitten as president, and an ongoing graduate student strike for union representation has created a rift between some students and faculty with university administration.
In Friday’s trustees’ meeting Whitten also announced her vision for the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis campus.
Starting in 2024, IUPUI will be known as Indiana University Indianapolis. Both Purdue and IU will still operate the Indianapolis campus, but the new venture will allow each university more independence in running their own programs.
