Indiana University President Pamela Whitten received a $162,500 bonus for her second-year performance.
Whitten’s bonus was approved unanimously by the Board of Trustees at the beginning of the semester. With a $650,000 annual salary, the bonus is 25 percent of her pay — the maximum amount allowed by Whitten’s employment contract.
The board’s compensation committee recommended approving the performance incentive in the Aug. 24 trustees meeting but did not cite the amount. Whitten’s bonus amount was confirmed through a records request.
After approval, Trustee Jeremy Morris said he admires how “hard working” and “effective” Whitten has been as president. He praised Whitten, and drew a comparison to a popular performer.
“It is an honor to be in close proximity to that level of work ethic,” Morris said. “You are our Beyoncé of higher education.”
Read more: Latha Ramchand selected as inaugural IUI Chancellor
Former member and compensation committee chair Michael Mirro said in the August meeting Whitten has shown leadership in heading the formation of IU Indianapolis and implementing the IU 2030 strategic plan.
Last year IU and Purdue University formalized the split of the shared IUPUI campus in Indianapolis. Since then, IU has been planning its new IU Indianapolis campus, launching July 1. The university has made progress, most recently announcing Chancellor Latha Ramchand as its inaugural leader.
However, the board and Whitten were accused of undermining IU’s history of shared governance by the IUPUI Faculty Council. In a December letter, the council said faculty were not consulted about the split, and those impacted — mostly engineering and technology faculty — will face harmed careers.
IU 2030 was launched in April 2023, laying out seven-year plans for the university and each campus. The plan has three pillars: student success and opportunity, transformative research and creativity, and service to our state and beyond.
Read more: IUPUI Faculty Council says President Whitten and Board of Trustees 'undermine' shared governance
Quinn Buckner, chair of the Board of Trustees, said at the August meeting the world of higher education is moving quickly, and the board asks a lot of Whitten. Being able to steer IU, which Buckner compared to an “aircraft carrier,” is difficult, he said.
“We have great confidence in you,” Buckner said to Whitten.
Aubrey is our higher education reporter and a Report For America corps member. Contact her at aubmwrig@iu.edu or follow her on Twitter at @aubreymwright.
