Executive Committee awards President Licari 8.5% incentive and sets base pay at $415,500 after positive review

The Austin Peay State University Board Executive Committee voted to award President Dr. Mike Licari an 8.5% incentive of $34,000 for fiscal year 2024–25 and to set his base salary at $415,500 for fiscal year 2025–26 following a performance evaluation conducted by the committee.

Chairman Jenkins told the committee the evaluation used an instrument the board approved in March 2024 and drew on multiple sources, including anonymous surveys of direct reports and board feedback. Jenkins said the committee awarded discretionary points and, overall, recommended the maximum discretionary score. "We got a rock star in Dr. Mike Licari," he said when summarizing respondents’ comments.

The committee reviewed five performance categories. Committee materials and Jenkins' summary reported the following outcomes: an increase in full-time freshmen and in new graduate enrollment (several enrollment measures gained full credit); a drop in the official graduation rate from 44.5% to 40.2%, which did not earn points in that category; a rise in fall-to-fall retention from about 65.89% to 66.14% (full points awarded); athletic-grade-point-average above 3.0 and a conference championship in baseball; and fundraising that included a Foundation gift or pledge reported at $2,000,000. Jenkins also cited an overall enrollment increase of 8.6%, time-freshman growth of 17.4% since 2021, a record graduate enrollment at the Fort Campbell Center, a 50% increase in state appropriations, and a 76% increase in grant funding. Jenkins reported that the university's SACSCOC accreditation review returned no recommendations.

Jenkins moved to award the incentive and then moved to set the base salary. Both motions were seconded, and the committee carried each motion by voice vote: "All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? The ayes have it," Jenkins said. The committee recorded the incentive as 8.5% ($34,000) for FY 2024–25 and the base salary at $415,500 for FY 2025–26. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally or the name of the second for the motions.

President Licari had stepped out of the meeting during the committee’s initial discussion and was invited back before the committee returned the gavel to Chairman Jenkins.

The committee also voted to defer consideration of the next performance-evaluation instrument and incentive plan for FY 2025–26 until the June board meeting to allow the incoming board chair to provide input. Jenkins said the committee should consider a long-term contract or other measures to retain Licari given his recruiting and enrollment record, but no formal action on a contract was taken at the meeting.

The committee's approvals will be forwarded to the full board or implemented consistent with the board’s policies and any applicable university procedures; the transcript does not specify additional administrative steps or effective dates beyond the fiscal years referenced.