UF President Kent Fuchs’ five-year contract will end in June 2020, but that won’t necessarily end his time at UF.
UF’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Sep. 6 to keep Fuchs as president, but with one difference –– he’ll no longer serve under a contract. As of July 1, 2020, Fuchs will work at UF until he retires or the board dismisses him.
The decision must still be approved by Florida’s Board of Governors, UF Spokesperson Steve Orlando said.
Fuchs will still receive full compensation, he said, which includes a base yearly pay of $860,000, access to the presidential Dashburg House and $150,000 per year for his retirement fund.
Fuchs said he chose this because it makes him equal to the employees on his presidential cabinet, who serve without contracts.
“I plan to be here for the long haul. I plan to see the University of Florida reach top-five stature while I’m president,” Fuchs wrote in a statement. “I’m excited about all the work we will all be doing together as a university community to get us there and beyond.”
Board Chair Morteza Hosseini said Fuchs has done an outstanding job as president, citing UF’s recent rise to No. 7 best public university in the U.S. News and World Report as evidence.
“I have complete confidence in his leadership and his ability to help guide UF to its goal of being a top-five public institution,” he said.
Contact Hope Dean at hdean@alligator.org. Follow her on Twitter @hope_m_dean.
