University of Iowa President Sally Mason’s husband, Ken Mason, will be paid $54,175 this year at attend fundraising events on the UI’s behalf, according to documents obtained by The Daily Iowan.

The university’s hiring of Ken Mason in 2007 as a lecturer in the Biology Department and a "presidential fundraiser" — which gives him more than $107,000 a year — was part of a negotiation to hire Sally Mason, the documents stated.

The UI Foundation pays the university for Ken Mason’s position.

Ken Mason is reportedly required to participate in fundraising activities and events on and off campus in his role as presidential fundraiser, a position that was established in an oral agreement among President Mason, former Board of Regents’ President Michael Gartner, and former Executive Director Gary Steinke when Sally Mason was appointed to the position, the documents stated.

Gartner told the Des Moines Register he was never aware such a position was established for the UI president’s husband.

UI Officials will be meeting today to discuss the issue, said Forrest Meyer, the UI Foundation’s executive director of strategic communication.

— by Beth Bratsos