Education

UA President Jim Johnsen will donate $50,000 bonus back to the university

University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen will donate his $50,000 annual performance bonus back to UA, just as he did last year.

Johnsen took over the helm of the state's higher education system in 2015 under a five-year contract that included a $325,000 annual salary and the chance to earn up to a $75,000 bonus each year if he met a series of goals set by the 11-member UA Board of Regents.

This year, the regents awarded Johnsen $50,000, or about 67 percent of his maximum bonus.

They said he fell short on goals including increasing the number of degrees and credentials earned by Alaska Native students.

He received money for other goals that included his work on Strategic Pathways, the massive initiative to review the university system's academic and administrative programs in an effort to streamline UA and save money. He also received cash for reducing costs to meet the 2016-17 budget and continuing progress toward compliance with Title IX, which guarantees gender equity in education.

[University of Alaska considers tuition hikes for the next 2 years]

At last week's Board of Regents meeting, regents praised Johnsen's work at UA. Regent Jo Heckman described him as articulate, dedicated and motivated. She said her only concern was that he worked too hard.

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"We are indeed very fortunate to have you as our president," she told him.

Johnsen told regents that he and his wife decided to donate the bonus to three projects: the Troth Yeddha' indigenous studies center and park at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the Sen. Ted Stevens Legislative Internship Program, and a future initiative to develop a center for leadership development.

Last year, regents awarded Johnsen a $23,279 bonus. He also gave that money to the indigenous studies center.

Tegan Hanlon

Tegan Hanlon was a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News between 2013 and 2019. She now reports for Alaska Public Media.

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