KENT: Kent State University President Beverly Warren will receive a $93,636 bonus — a performance incentive for her second year in office.
The bonus is 20 percent of her base salary. She is paid $468,180 a year under her current contract. Last year, Warren received a $75,000 bonus.
At Friday’s board of trustees meeting, members commended the president for her contributions, highlighting the university’s increased retention rates and increased enrollment for 10 years straight at its main campus, academic success and continued growth.
In a public review of the president’s annual assessment, board members said Warren exceeded her annual goals and awarded her the full value of the performance incentive of her contract. Earlier this year, the board approved a contract extension for Warren through June 2020, with a 2 percent raise each year.
“President Warren has seized every opportunity to guide the university to new heights, and the board recognizes and appreciates her outstanding leadership,” said Lawrence Pollock, chair of the board of trustees. “She has shown a dedication to putting students first and to advancing academic success and quality across all Kent State campuses.”
Warren said she was humbled and grateful for the board of trustees’ assessment of her contributions and leadership.
“I didn’t do it alone. I have my staff to thank as well,” she said. “It remains a privilege to serve this university, and I am looking forward to the future achievements we will realize guided by our Strategic Roadmap and the collective action of this tremendous university community.”
In other action, the board:
• Approved a new deadly weapons policy with clearly defined language that will take effect across the entire Kent State campus system, starting Nov. 1. The policy prohibits deadly weapons on all university grounds, unless otherwise permitted by Ohio law. It also includes language that outlines the prohibition of deadly weapons inside all university buildings, facilities and vehicles.
• Approved the planning and execution of a comprehensive campaign said to be the largest in the history of Kent State. The plan through the year 2021 centers around a new strategic vision and establishes five strategic priorities: Students First, A Distinctive Kent State, Globally Competitive, Regional Impact and Organizational Stewardship.
• As part of the comprehensive plan, endorsed the fundraising campaign for a new building for the College of Business Administration. The proposed project targets the construction of a three-story building of approximately 145,000 square feet to be located at the corner of Campus Drive and Summit Street.
• Ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with the full-time nontenure track faculty unit of the American Association of University Professors, Kent State Chapter, effective Aug. 16 to Aug. 16, 2019. The tentative agreement was approved by the membership of the full-time unit through an electronic ratification process that ended Aug. 29. Ninety-eight percent of the membership approved the tentative agreement.
The three-year agreement includes annual salary increases, one-time adjustments for senior lecturers/professors and longevity, funding of a professional development excellence pool, and minimum starting salaries. The union accepted medical and other benefits agreed to earlier by the tenured/tenure-track faculty unit.
• Approved revisions to the current agreement effective between Kent State and the Kent State University Employees Local 153, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). The union agreed to the removal of the 70/50 health care plan and its replacement with a high-deductible health plan and health savings account option; the inclusion of paid parental leave benefits; and the addition of one seat on the health benefits review committee to be occupied by an AFSCME bargaining unit member.
Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com.