EDUCATION

JuliAnn Mazachek's three-year contract will pay her $1.3 million to be Washburn president

Rafael Garcia
Topeka Capital-Journal
JuliAnn Mazachek's base salary as Washburn University president is $335,000.

Nearly two months after she was announced and a month since she started the job, Washburn University president JuliAnn Mazachek has a contract.

The Washburn Board of Regents, in a special virtual meeting Thursday, approved a three-year contract with Mazachek, who returned to the university earlier this year to serve as Washburn's 15th president. That contract, however, wasn't released until Tuesday, after all parties had a chance to sign the document.

Washburn Board of Regents chairwoman Shelly Buhler had previously told The Capital-Journal that the delay was due to a few minor, technical details that the board was still working out with Mazachek.

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Mazachek will receive more than $1 million over three-year Washburn presidency contract

Since she started a month into the spring semester, Mazachek will receive a prorated $140,000 through the end of the 2022-23 school year, in addition to such benefits as a university car, travel expenses, group insurance, retirement and pension plan, and medical insurance.

For each subsequent school year, which run July 1 to June 30, Mazachek will receive a yearly base salary of $335,000. In addition, Mazachek will receive an annual retention payment of $60,000 for each year she remains on the job through the life of the contract, which expires at the end of the 2025-26 school year. She'll also be eligible for any other university-wide salary increases.

Altogether, Mazachek's three-year contract will pay her $1.3 million over the life of the agreement, although it is subject to mutual renewal by the Regents and Mazachek.

Comparatively, Mazachek's predecessor, Jerry Farley, received a salary of $283,522 in his last year as president, although he is receiving $327,467 this year for his work as president emeritus, and $360,213 for a 12-month sabbatical that begins Oct. 1.

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With current Washburn President's Residence still occupied, where will Mazachek live?

While previous presidents have had use of the Washburn-owned President's Residence as part of their employment agreements, Mazachek's contract differs, mainly because Farley's retirement agreement allowed him to keep the house for five years following his last day as president.

Eventually, Mazachek will move into a new President's Residence, to be built on land bought with a $1 million donation at the university-adjacent 1709 S.W. MacVicar Ave.

Mazachek, in an interview with The Capital-Journal in early February, anticipated the new residence will complete construction in late 2024.

More:Washburn University plans to use $1M gift to build new presidential mansion next to campus

In the meantime, she will live in a private apartment, for which Washburn will pay all rent, utilities and insurance.

Other benefits for Mazachek include use of a university vehicle and all related expenses, health insurance, 24 days of sick and personal leave, work-related travel expenses, professional activity and organization fees, and a membership in the Topeka Country Club.

How JuliAnn Mazachek's presidency could end

Per the contract, the Washburn Board of Regents will evaluate Mazachek's performance each spring, with the board setting goals and performance objectives for the president.

As a standard contract clause, the board also may remove Mazachek from her post without cause with no less than 60 days' notice, with Washburn on the hook for any remaining benefits and salary not yet paid through the length of the contract.

Mazachek could opt to remain employed as a fully tenured professor in Washburn's School of Business, or she could opt to come to an agreement with the Regents to release any legal claims against the university for the lesser of one year's salary or whatever remains through the contract.

Mazachek could also voluntarily resign with at least 60 days' notice and receive her salary through her last day of employment. Alternatively, she can resign with 120 days' notice and receive 12 months of sabbatical leave, paid at the same $335,000 salary, after which she could return as a professor or relinquish any tenure.

If the board were to fire Mazachek for cause, she would only receive salary and benefits through the date of her termination.

Rafael Garcia is an education reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached at rgarcia@cjonline.com or by phone at785-289-5325. Follow him on Twitter at @byRafaelGarcia.