News Summary
William F. Tate IV has been appointed the 22nd president of Rutgers University, effective July 1. Currently the president of LSU, Tate’s new role comes with a base salary of $1.1 million, setting a record for the highest-paid president in Rutgers’ history. Tate’s extensive background in academia promises to bring a renewed focus on academic excellence and addressing current challenges in higher education. His appointment follows a thorough search process by Rutgers’ Board of Governors, aiming to strengthen the university’s leadership amidst ongoing changes in the educational landscape.
New Brunswick, NJ – William F. Tate IV has been appointed as the 22nd president of Rutgers University, effective July 1, marking a significant milestone in his career. Currently serving as the president of Louisiana State University (LSU) since 2021, Tate’s new position at Rutgers comes with a substantial pay increase, elevating his base salary to $1.1 million annually, along with potential performance incentives, making him the highest-paid president in the university’s history.
Tate’s current contract with LSU offers him a base salary of $750,000 per year, plus bonuses. His new five-year agreement with Rutgers further enhances his compensation package, which also provides multiple perks, including:
- Housing in Piscataway
- A $15,000 annual car allowance and a university driver
- Standard university health and retirement benefits
- 25 days of annual vacation
- Coverage of up to $20,000 per year in attorney fees
The decision to appoint Tate was made unanimously by Rutgers’ Board of Governors, as he takes over from former president Jonathan Holloway, who served for five years with a reported base salary of $919,639 and total compensation exceeding $1.1 million.
Despite his record-setting salary at Rutgers, Tate is still out-earned by some athletic coaches at the university, most notably head football coach Greg Schiano, who earned $6.25 million last year.
Tate brings extensive experience to his new role, having served 18 years as the dean of the graduate school at Washington University in St. Louis and as provost at the University of South Carolina. He is a native of Chicago and a married father of two, holding multiple advanced degrees in economics and mathematics education. Tate emphasized his commitment to academic excellence and pinpointed the importance of addressing the challenges faced by higher education in his introduction at Rutgers.
The selection process for Tate’s position followed a challenging era for Rutgers under Holloway, characterized by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, faculty strikes, and campus protests. To assist in the search for the new president, the university enlisted the services of the national search firm WittKieffer and created a 20-member committee that sifted through “hundreds” of candidates.
Founded 258 years ago, Rutgers University is one of the oldest higher education institutions in the United States, currently hosting a student population of about 67,000. As Tate steps into this vital leadership role, he is expected to navigate the complexities of the modern educational landscape while building upon the university’s rich legacy, positioning Rutgers for future growth and success.
Tate’s transition marks not only a change in leadership for Rutgers but also a pivotal moment as he aims to address the ongoing challenges of higher education and strive for academic excellence amidst a rapidly evolving environment.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
LSU Leadership Transition Raises Questions About Athletic Future
William Tate IV Appointed as President of Rutgers University
Additional Resources
- New Jersey Monitor
- Wikipedia: Rutgers University
- NJ.com
- Google Search: William F. Tate IV
- ROI-NJ
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Higher Education
- Patch.com
- Google News: Rutgers University president
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