The state Board of Regents is re-evaluating whether it will offer performance-based bonuses to the three state institution presidents.

The bonuses were started in 2007, when UI President Sally Mason was hired; she has never been awarded the bonus. All three regent university presidents volunteered to forgo their bonuses this year in light of budget woes.

One reason for the re-evaluation is simply the poor economy, Regent Bob Downer said, and he favors the concept of the performance-based pay.

“I like the idea of trying some compensation to the matter of meeting goals,” he said. “It’s a valid way to measure performance, and I personally would not be inclined to rule them out entirely.”

No decisions have been made and the regents won’t consider the presidents’ compensation until July.

If the regents do decide to eliminate bonuses, Downer said, he anticipates they would be reinstated eventually.

“It’s entirely possible they will return,” he said. “The perception of these things change over time.”

— by Emily Busse