Iowa regents mum after reviewing presidents, executive director

After spending seven hours behind closed doors evaluating the heads of its institutions - including Iowa's three public universities - the Board of Regents on Tuesday took no 'personnel action,” which could have included approving pay raises or new compensation packages.

Board President Mike Richards did not provide additional comment about the full day's reviews of Interim Iowa State University President Ben Allen, University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld, University of Northern Iowa President Mark Nook, regents Executive Director Bob Donley, and Steve Gettel, superintendent of the state's special schools.

The silence mimics the board's action - or lack thereof - following last summer's reviews. The board initially was mum on any evaluation decisions but later announced Harreld and former ISU President Steven Leath had requested no raises in light of weaker-than-expected state appropriations and looming tuition hikes.

Similar circumstances frame this week's evaluations - although issues involving legislative support are even more grim, with lawmakers approving deep higher education cuts both in the current budget year and the next, which begins July 1.

In many years past, following the evaluations, regents have approved raises and deferred compensation packages. But last year, with former UNI President Bill Ruud departing for Marietta College in Ohio and Leath and Harreld requesting the status quo, only Gettel saw his pay increase to $189,000. He also was awarded a $15,000 payout for 2016 and another $15,500 performance incentive to pay out after this week's evaluation.

Board Executive Director Donley saw no pay increase last summer, although he was awarded a previously-approved $8,000 performance incentive.

At the time, the board committed to reconsider raises during midyear evaluations. But in January, having just received news of a governor proposal to claw back $25.5 million in state appropriations for the current budget year, former Board of Regents President Bruce Rastetter said he and his colleagues would not approve any midyear raises for the institutional heads.

'It just wouldn't be right for the board to increase any wages at this time,” he said in January.

The last time the board approved raises for its university presidents was in summer 2015, when it offered Leath a 5 percent bump, bringing him in line with former UI President Sally Mason's $525,000. Harreld's salary has remained the same since he started in November 2015 at $590,000 - with a five-year deferred compensation plan contributing $200,000 annually.

Former UNI President Ruud, at that time, received a 2.5 percent base pay raise, bringing his salary to $357,110. New UNI President Mark Nook, who took over in February, was given an initial salary matching that.

The Gazette last year reported Executive Director Donley, in the 2015 budget year, made more than double a salary cap set for his position by the legislature. Thanks to $184,166 in bonuses and deferred compensation, Donley in 2015 made $338,466 - more than twice his $154,300 salary cap.

State records show Donley in 2016 still made far more than his cap - earning $287,267, which includes his base pay plus previously-approved deferred compensation and performance incentives worth $125,000 and $8,000, respectively. The board previously approved for Donley another deferred compensation plan worth $140,000 that is scheduled to pay out this year.

l Comments: (319) 339-3158; vanessa.miller@thegazette.com