Trustees amend President Dunn's contract and increase his salary

KALAMAZOO—Acting at its Dec. 5 meeting, the Western Michigan University Board of Trustees put its stamp of approval on the leadership of WMU President John M. Dunn, amending his contract and increasing his pay at a rate matching increases for other campus employees.

Trustee action means Dunn's contract now runs through June 30, 2016, and his 2012-13 salary will be $373,440. The new salary figure includes a 1 percent raise retroactive to July 1 and an additional 1 percent raise that will go into effect in January 2013.

Raise to be donated for student scholarships

Following the board meeting Dunn confirmed he will continue a giving tradition he has followed throughout his presidency. Whenever he receives a salary increase he donates back for student scholarships, the cumulative total of his pay increases since his $345,000 starting salary. That means that this year, he plans to donate back $28,440 for student scholarships. Dunn has been WMU's president since July 2007.

In September 2011 and following his fourth positive review, the board approved a two-year contract extension for Dunn, taking that contract into 2016. That action necessitated amending and updating his earlier contract—steps the board approved at the Dec. 5 meeting. The new contract includes an extension and increase in Dunn's deferred compensation as well as provisions for a one-year term as president emeritus and a two-year non-compete clause.

The 2011 evaluation did not include a salary increase because budgetary constraints that year had kept WMU from providing salary increases to any employees except those with previous contractual commitments. This year, however, most employee groups saw a 1 percent pay increase on July 1, and they will see an additional 1 percent increase, effective in January. The board approved the same percentage increase for the president.