Urbandale, Iowa — The State Board of Regents approved an increase in salary or retention bonuses for the three presidents of the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Northern Iowa Wednesday.
Board President Michael Richards read the proposed increase for UI President Barbara Wilson.
The raise moves Wilson’s yearly salary to 700 thousand dollars. For ISU President Wendy Wintersteen, there will be a new deferred compensation plan starting July 1st with annual contributions of 415 thousand dollars, and her new employment agreement extends through June 30th of 2026. Her salary stays at 650 thousand dollars. UNI President Mark Nook also received a raise.
This moves Nook’s salary to 372 thousand 110 dollars a year. The executive director of the Board of Regents, Mark Braun is also getting a change in his deferred compensation.
The Regents discussed the salary issues in a closed meeting Tuesday and did not make any comments before voting to approve them Wednesday. After raising the compensation packages for the Board and university leaders, the Regents then approved a three-point-five percent tuition increase for in-state students. Iowa State University student body vice president, Jennifer Holiday spoke before the vote.
Holiday says the increase can also inhibit students as they have to choose between eating and paying for textbooks.
University of Iowa student body vice president Carly O’Brien also discussed the burden on students. She says 30 percent of undergraduate students report using more than half of their income for housing and struggle with paying for food.
UNI student body president Micaiah Krutsinger says he encourages the legislature and the Board of Regents to look at how the school is being funded.
Krutsinger says state funding for higher education has not kept up.
Krutsinger says the three universities combined currently have 57-point-five million dollars less in general funding from the state as compared to 2001. The Board of Regents approved the tuition increase and also an increase in mandatory fees without discussion.
