June 10, 2009

To the NAU campus community:

Included in the agenda for the Arizona Board of Regents meeting June 18-19 on the NAU campus is an action item for the board to approve the notice of reappointment and multiple-year employment contract of John Haeger as president of Northern Arizona University for the period July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2013.

President Haeger would like to share the following:

Dear colleagues:

I am very appreciative of the support I have received from the Arizona Board of Regents and my colleagues over the last several years of my tenure as president of Northern Arizona University.

I also appreciate ABOR's efforts to advance higher education in Arizona. As part of those efforts, the regents have sought to ensure that university presidents' salaries remain competitive. I know that is part of the board's consideration as it prepares to vote next week on a new three-year contract for me that would begin July 1, 2010, and extend to June 30, 2013.

If a new contract is approved with a compensation adjustment, I understand the message that a salary increase for the president would send during this time of economic crisis. I therefore have talked with the Board of Regents about my intention to offset any increase in compensation next year with a gift to the NAU Foundation. It is my intent to designate those funds for student scholarships and the President's Distinguished Teaching Fellows Program.

I am grateful for the board's understanding and support that I use my salary increase for broader university goals. Working together with the campus, I intend to fulfill my promise to fund our top priority at the university—salary increases for the faculty, staff and administration.

Sincerely,

John D. Haeger
President