Media Relations
Press Release:
MEDIA
CONTACT:
Kristine
M. Gobbo
561-297-1168,
kgobbo@fau.edu
FAU’s Board of Trustees
Approves President-Elect MJ Saunders’ Employment
Agreement
Saunders to commit $50,000 towards
FAU President’s Challenge, an initiative to support
student scholarships
BOCA RATON, FL (May 11, 2010) – The Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees’ Personnel and Compensation Committee reviewed and approved the employment agreement for President-Elect Mary Jane Saunders. The agreement will now go to the full Board of Trustees for its approval on Wednesday, May 26.
Highlights of the employment contract include the following: a five-year agreement commencing on June 7, 2010; appointment as a professor within FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Science with tenure; annual salary of $345,000 with standard employment benefits, making her the sixth highest paid president in Florida’s 11-member State University System; a deferred retirement benefit equal to 15 percent; and an annual performance bonus of no more than $50,000 upon accomplishment of specific bonus goals to be set by the board chair annually.
Recognizing the importance of scholarship support to students at FAU, an exciting, new initiative led by Saunders and key leaders from the FAU Foundation Board of Directors was launched. The FAU President’s Challenge was created to match new and increased gifts to the university designated for annual scholarship support. Saunders has committed $50,000 to launch this initiative. Scholarships have become even more critical for students with the decline in the economy and often play a key role in whether or not students can attend the university.
“I am absolutely committed to FAU and its students, and I want to assist in any way possible to help them succeed,” said Saunders. “I encourage others to join in helping students attend FAU and attain their scholarly goals.”
“With this generous gift, President Saunders is leading by example,” said Pete LoBello, chair of the development committee of the FAU Foundation Board. “Her challenge sends a clear message to our community that student scholarship is a priority, her priority. On behalf of the FAU Foundation Board, we accept this challenge and look forward to helping her lead the charge.”
Saunders was selected as FAU’s 6 th president on March 3. She previously served as provost and senior vice president of academic affairs at Cleveland State University.
- FAU –
About Florida Atlantic University:
Florida Atlantic University opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University serves more than 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students on seven campuses and sites. Building on its rich tradition as a teaching university, with a world-class faculty, FAU hosts 10 colleges: College of Architecture, Urban & Public Affairs, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Biomedical Science, the College of Business, the College of Education, the College of Engineering & Computer Science, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Graduate College, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. For more information, visit www.fau.edu .
