Article published October 30, 2009
OSU leader's bonus will go to aid students
By ENCARNACION PYLE
COLUMBUS DISPATCH
COLUMBUS - Ohio State University trustees voted yesterday to give President E. Gordon Gee a raise and bonus worth more than $220,000, but the money will be used to help students pay for school.
Earlier this year, Mr. Gee and 18 other top executives decided to waive raises and bonuses for a year to build up more financial aid for students in this poor economy.
Mr. Gee is a "charismatic, intelligent, and bold" president - and exactly the kind of person to lead Ohio State in its bid to move "from excellence to eminence," the trustees said.
"Clearly the university has a lot of mojo right now," trustee Brian K. Hicks said.
"Thank you for leading our mojo, Dr. Gee."
The board gave Mr. Gee high marks for recruiting an outstanding leadership team; involving students, professors, staff members, and the board in all levels of decision-making, and partnering with businesses and community groups to address issues greater than just the university.Trustees also praised him for pushing a $1 billion expansion of the OSU Medical Center.
Based on his performance this year, the board decided to give Mr. Gee a $20,053 raise. The increase, equal to 2.5 percent of his current base salary of $802,125, mirrors the aggregate percentage given to OSU's faculty and staff.
The money will be diverted to the university's "Students First, Students Now" scholarship fund.
Another $950,000 in raises and bonuses that would have gone to Mr. Gee's senior management team will go into that fund.
Trustees also decided that Mr. Gee had earned a 35 percent bonus for meeting goals.
But his bonus, like those of other top officials, was reduced by 10 percentage points because of the lousy economy.
Mr. Gee will receive the $200,531 bonus, but he will donate it to a scholarship fund that he established this year with a $1 million personal pledge.
Mr. Gee will pay the taxes on that income out of his other earnings.
Mr. Gee said the university's success is a reflection of the people under him.
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