Note: the image above is from a previous IU Board of Trustees meeting.

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana University Board of Trustees voted to approve a $175,500 bonus for IU President Pamela Whitten at Friday’s meeting, the maximum allowed for her salary.

The bonus is capped at 25% of Whitten’s current salary of $702,000 for the 2025 fiscal year, according to the IU faculty and staff salary listings. Last year, the trustees approved a bonus of $162,500, which was the 25% maximum amount allowed for her salary, which at the time was $650,000.

Trustee Cathy Langham recommended the bonus, which passed in an 8-1 vote, with Trustee Vivian Winston casting the only vote against the bonus.

Whitten is the first female president in IU’s history, succeeding IU president Michael McRobbie who retired in June 2021.

It has been a tumultuous few months for the Whitten administration, which has faced ongoing criticism from students and faculty over how the university handled IU’s Gaza encampment protests in April.

On April 25 and 27, Indiana State Police arrested 57 protesters demonstrating against the ongoing war in Gaza. Late May, the Monroe County Prosecutor said all charges would be dropped.

A week prior, the IU Bloomington faculty passed votes of no confidence for IU President Pamela Whitten, Provost Rahul Shrivastav and Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs Carrie Docherty during a special meeting.

The motion for no confidence in Whitten passed with 93% of the vote out of 888 total ballots cast. 827 voted no confidence, 32 abstained, and 29 voted otherwise.

The motion for no confidence in Shrivastav passed with 91% of the vote out of 879 total ballots cast. 804 voted no confidence, 28 abstained, and 47 voted otherwise.

The motion for no confidence in Docherty passed with 75% of the vote out of 895 total ballots cast. 672 voted no confidence, 116 abstained, and 107 voted otherwise.

It was the first time since 2005 that an IU President faced a vote of no confidence.

After the vote, the IU Board of Trustees doubled down on their commitment to Whitten being the university president, releasing a joint statement at the time which read:

The current environment across higher education is unprecedented. These challenges have confronted leaders across U.S. universities at a staggering pace, encompassing an evolution in societal perceptions of higher education, a shifting public policy landscape, and world events resulting in unrest on campuses across the country. Indiana University is no exception, and—as we move forward together—we must demonstrate shared respect and grace in navigating these tumultuous waters.

Meanwhile, the ambitious work of the university must go on. At our direction and with our support, President Pamela Whitten is leading at a time in higher education where the status quo is not an option. It is against this backdrop that we proudly endorsed IU 2030, the university’s strategic plan outlined by President Whitten and her administration, which was designed with faculty and staff participation on every campus. It sets forth a positive and bold vision for the university, grounded in a commitment to student success and opportunity, transformative research and creativity, and service to the state of Indiana and beyond. IU 2030 is the roadmap for IU’s continued growth and sustained excellence, and President Whitten’s leadership is key in delivering the results required.

As a Board, we continue to offer our full support to President Whitten. She is the right leader at the right time precisely because she has pursued a future for Indiana University that will ensure that it thrives in its next era. It is our intention that President Whitten’s tenure as the leader at IU will provide the many years necessary to realize the vision we have established for the university.

We, the Board of Trustees, stand united in our confidence in President Whitten and the long-term success of IU. By acknowledging the realities of today’s world and working collaboratively, we are poised to collectively accelerate the achievement of our goals. This shared commitment fortifies our resolve to usher Indiana University into its next century of success.

Together, we have laid the groundwork for a future filled with achievement, innovation, and excellence. After all, Indiana University is, and must remain, a gem among the nation’s most pre-eminent and iconic public research universities.