WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) — The Purdue University Board of Trustees approved President Mitch Daniels' 2019 at-risk pay Thursday morning at 103 percent. That adds $221,450 to his base salary, bringing his total compensation for the fiscal year to $901,450.
Daniels has a base salary of $430,000, and a retention of $250,000.
The at-risk pay is based off measures set by the board and Daniels in Dec. 2017. The formula used is based off four areas, including student success, student affordability, fundraising and operations. That included 22 (out of 20) percent in student affordability measures, 23 (of 25) percent in student success measures, 32 (of 30) percent in fundraising and 26 (of 25) percent in operations.
In the past five years, Daniels received 100 percent, 88 percent, 90 percent, 96 percent and 95 percent of his at-risk pay.
Trustee Tom Spurgeon said the time to degree for Purdue students has fallen from 4.23 to 4.01 years from 2014 to 2019. He also noted the 4-year graduation rate in those same years rose from 49 percent to 61 percent.
Spurgeon noted Daniels now becomes 6th in the Big Ten in his compensation ranking.
The president voluntarily left the room prior to the discussion.
"People believe in him," said Student Trustee Noah Scott. "He's viewed as a celebrity, but he doesn't act like one."
