Dunn receives salary increase, donates raise back for student aid

KALAMAZOO—Acting at a special March 19 meeting, the Western Michigan University Board of Trustees followed their positive December evaluation of WMU President John M. Dunn with a 2.5 percent increase to his base salary.

Retroactively effective to Jan. 6, the board's decision means Dunn will see a $9,336 increase in his base salary, making his new base salary $382,776.

Trustees formally evaluated Dunn in December during their regular board meeting, praising him for bringing "stability in leadership and direction to this University." Board members announced at that meeting that they would take up Dunn's compensation at a different time.

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 financial aid the cumulative total of his pay increases since his $345,000 starting salary. That means that this year, he plans to donate back $37,776 to be used for scholarships. Dunn has been WMU's president since July 2007.

Dunn's 2.5 percent increase is the same salary adjustment percentage earned over the past year by University employees who do not have union representation. Those employee groups received a 1 percent increase last summer and an additional 1.5 percent in January.