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Trustees voice praise for Bailey, extend her contract

Dec. 10, 2005

KALAMAZOO--Offering their second formal evaluation of Western Michigan University President Judith I. Bailey, University trustees lauded her accomplishments during a "challenging" period in the institution's history and extended her contract for an additional year.

"You've provided the strong and insightful leadership necessary to keep Western Michigan University on a path of academic excellence, growth and achievement," Board Chair Peter Aseritis told the president as he presented the formal report of the board's evaluation committee during the trustees' Dec. 9 public meeting. "The Board of Trustees absolutely made the correct choice when we selected you as the University's seventh president."

Citing advances in technology on campus, successful employee contract negotiations and her leadership role in addressing budget issues caused by reductions in state funding, Aseritis noted, Bailey stayed in close contact with the board during staff deliberations and garnered the support necessary to make important, but often difficult decisions.

After praising the president, the board announced changes to her compensation package and contract. Bailey, who came to WMU in 2003, was under a five-year contract due to expire June 30, 2008. Her contract was extended by one year and is now due to run through June 30, 2009. In addition, the board boosted her salary by 3.5 percent, retroactive to the start of the 2005-06 fiscal year, and added $10,000 to the amount of annual deferred compensation she receives.

The board unanimously approved the evaluation report and the compensation recommendation included in the report.

"There's probably no time more humbling than when you receive the positive support from your board," Bailey said in response to the evaluation report and the board's vote. "All of the accomplishments that we've celebrated this year, including all of the accomplishments that you mentioned, were achieved not by me alone, but by the university's wonderful community of administrators, faculty, staff and students, working together to move Western forward. I appreciate the support that every administrator, faculty and staff member has given me and the board to implement some of the steps necessary and celebrate the success the entire University has had."

Media contact: Cheryl Roland, (269) 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu

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