BGSU president gets raise, faculty members protest not having contract

Bowling Green State University President Mary Ellen Mazey delivers her annual State of the University address September 19, 2012.

BOWLING GREEN – After facing a room full of Bowling Green State University faculty members holding bright orange signs that said “fair contract now,” university trustees today gave President Mary Ellen Mazey a raise.

Ms. Mazey’s annual salary of $375,120 is to increase by 2 percent effective immediately. She also was given a $50,000 bonus, which she said she would donate to the BGSU Foundation for student scholarships.

A former provost and vice president for academic affairs at Auburn University in Alabama, Ms. Mazey became BGSU’s 11th president on July 1, 2011.

Meanwhile, the 2-year-old BGSU Faculty Association still does not have its first contract. About 100 union members filled the trustees’ meeting room at the start of the meeting then walked out in silent protest after Mark Earley, chairman of the Faculty Senate, gave his report to the board.

Board Chairman William Primrose III said he had met with David Jackson, president of the BGSU Faculty Association, earlier this week .The 90-minute meeting, he said, was “very professional and very productive.”

Mr. Primrose did not go into detail but told the faculty members he had shared Mr. Jackson’s concerns to his fellow trustees.

“Thank you for being the higher education professionals you are,” he told union members.