Iowa's Mason getting 3 percent raise; UNI, ISU presidents defer

University of Iowa President Sally Mason will get a 3.3 percent pay raise this year, her first bump in base salary since taking the helm in 2007.

Mason's base salary will increase from $450,000 to $465,000, and her deferred compensation package, which rewards longevity, increases to $125,000 annually. Mason's deferred compensation agreement continues for two more years.

Iowa State University President Gregory Geoffroy and University of Northern Iowa President Ben Allen requested no base salary increases for 2010-11, state Board of Regents President David Miles said this morning. The regents, meeting in Ames, unanimously approved this year's pay packages for the three university presidents, two leaders of the state special schools and regents Executive Director Bob Donley. The board spent Wednesday in closed session conducting evaluations of the institution leaders.

The presidents did not get pay increases last year and in fact took pay cuts, Miles said, because they took furloughs and agreed to forgo performance incentives.

The board this year wanted to restore some of what had been taken away during lean years of budget cuts, Miles said.

“This is not a time for significant increases, but we do need to acknowledge the hard work that has been put in by our presidents,” he said.

While Geoffroy and Allen requested no increase to base pay, the board felt an increase for Mason was needed, Miles said.

“President Mason has served us well and faithfully now for three years without an increase in salary,” he said.

The board did approve for Geoffroy a new three-year deferred compensation agreement for $125,000 a year, an increase from his former agreement of $75,000 annually.

Allen's deferred compensation agreement had been $25,000 a year, and the board increased it to $50,000 per year.

The board approved a 2 percent salary increase for Donley and created a performance incentive opportunity for $5,000.

Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School Superintendent Patrick Clancy will get a 2.5 percent salary increase, to $133,250, and a new three-year deferred compensation agreement for $20,000 per year.

Iowa School for the Deaf Superintendent Jeanne Prickett will get no change in salary, and her existing deferred compensation package will continue.Mas