The Board of Trustees will vote Thursday to approve Acting President Lisa Freeman’s presidential salary at nearly half a million dollars.

At 11 a.m. Thursday in Altgeld Hall room 300, the Board will vote to appoint Freeman as NIU’s next permanent president. The Board will also vote to approve Freeman’s contract, with a base salary of $450,000 and an additional $25,000 for every year she completes in the position, as well as a yearly performance-based or incentive-based compensation of $25,000.

As acting president, Freeman’s base salary was $360,000, also with an additional $25,000 for each year completed in the position, according to a June 28, 2017, Northern Star article. If approved, the contract will result in a $90,000 raise for Freeman.

Doug Baker, former president of NIU, received a base salary of $420,000 while holding the position. Freeman’s base salary will begin at $30,000 higher than Baker’s if approved by the Board.

The Board will also vote to authorize Freeman to use search firm services to select the Executive Vice President and Provost beginning in fiscal year 2019.

If the Board approves the contract, the agreement term will expire Sept. 19, 2022, unless the Board elects to renew or extend the agreement, in line with state law.

Once the presidential term expires or the agreement is terminated, Freeman is entitled to return to her tenured position in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, according to article 5.5 of the contract.