UF president-elect's $1 million contract sent to state board of governors for approval

University of Florida’s president-elect Ben Sasse stands to make millions if approved by the Florida Board of Governors this week.

A proposed contract obtained by The Gainesville Sun shows that U.S. Sen. Sasse, R-Neb., will make an annual base salary of $1 million, along with several incentives that would increase his total compensation.

The contract, which the board will vote on Wednesday, calls for a five-year term beginning on Feb. 6, 2023.

The 15-page document shows Sasse's base salary will increase by 4% “on a going-forward basis” if the university has achieved all short-term and long-term goals outlined by Sasse and the board of trustees. UF will also pay Sasse a performance bonus worth up to 15%, with another 15% going into his retirement plan, totaling $300,000 on top of his annual salary.

"I've been welcomed in so many special ways and my wife and kids are excited to get to know the rest of this community," Sasse said, at the Nov. 1 board of trustees meeting.

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Sasse's selection controversy

On Oct. 6, UF announced Sasse as the sole finalist after a nationwide search that was kept out of the public eye due to Senate Bill 520, which prevented information of the search from being public record.

Sasse's unanimous selection brought an onslaught of controversy and protest from the Gainesville community, many of whom took issue with his past statements on same-same marriage, abortion rights for women, as well as other controversial stances.

His second of three Q&A forums held on campus was interrupted when students took over Emerson Alumni Hall, forcing Sasse to move his final forum to another location.

Despite the communitywide opposition and vote of no confidence from the UF Faculty Senate, Sasse was unanimously voted in by UF trustees on Nov. 1.

At the meeting, speakers said Sasse's contract shouldn't surpass $1.6 million. UF's current president, Kent Fuchs, who has been in the role since 2015, earns a total compensation of $1.4 million.

Last week trustees chair Morteza Hosseini wrote Brian Lamb, chair of the state Board of Governors, to praise Sasse for his "bold vision."

"We believe unanimously that Dr. Sasse believes the University of Florida is the most interesting university in the most dynamic state in the country," Hosseini said. "Our board of trustees agrees and we believe unanimously that Dr. Sasse is exactly the right leader, right now, for the University of Florida."

Sasse, who currently resides in Fremont, Neb., will move into the Dasburg President's House, located at 450 Village Drive in Gainesville, and have moving costs covered, according to the proposed contract. His immediate family members will also have their tuition 100% covered at the university if they choose to attend.

Sasse, who has served as a senator since 2015, previously served as president of Midland University in Omaha, Nebraska. He earned a doctorate in American history from Yale University where he later taught.

Sasse was one of seven Republican senators who voted to convict former president Donald Trump of incitement of insurrection in his second impeachment trial.

He is the author of two New York Times best-selling books, "The Vanishing American Adult” and “Them: Why We Hate Each Other — and How to Heal.”

Gershon Harrell is an education reporter at The Gainesville Sun. He can be reached by phone at (352)338-3166, by email at Gharrell@gannett.com or on Twitter at @GershonReports.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse to make more than $1 million as UF president