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Kansas State University Provost Duane Nellis, who once walked away as a candidate for the University of Idaho presidency in March saying the job didn't pay enough, was hired by the State Board of Education Wednesday to lead the school.
Nellis is a favorite among many Vandal supporters who urged the board to find to put him in the presidency after he announced he was no longer a candidate. But when he withdrew last month, he said he was seeking less than the $370,000 he and his wife, Ruthie, make at Kansas State. Nellis makes $272,000, his wife $98,000. "I was not being unreasonable, in my opinion," Nellis said.
Nellis' salary will be $335,000 — $298,000 from the state and $37,000 from the University of Idaho Foundation. It was passed 6-0 by the board Wednesday morning.
The board also voted unanimously to waive its policy banning university foundations from contributing to presidential salaries. The board adopted the policy following the failed University Place project. Board members said then that the reform was intended to keep university presidents from being obligated to boosters who were contributing to their salaries.
The board also waived its policy restricting presidents' contracts to one year and granted a three-year contract to Nellis.
Nellis' backers cite his experience as the No. 2 at a land-grant institution, his roots in the Northwest, and an academic record that includes a Ph.D. from Oregon State in geography and research analyzing the Earth's land surface, which has drawn more than $3 million in grants.
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