BOWLING GREEN - Bowling Green State University’s board of trustees agreed Friday to a roughly 3 percent salary increase for President Mary Ellen Mazey along with a $50,000 bonus.

In reviewing her performance, the trustees cited the robust BGSU student body, rising student retention numbers, a significant increase in private support for the university, and improving the learning environment for students.

Ms. Mazey’s annual salary will increase from $412,000 to $424,000.

“President Mazey has done an outstanding job of raising the profile of Bowling Green State University and increasing public recognition of the value and quality of a BGSU degree,” said board of trustees Chair Megan Newlove. “Under her leadership, BGSU continues to make great progress in meeting the goals of our strategic plan and ensuring student success, and our students now have more opportunities than ever.”

After deciding in February to provide $5.7 million for the renovation and transformation of Hanna Hall into the Robert W. and Patricia A. Maurer Center, the board approved on Friday to give an additional $1.45 million for further construction needs. Included in the new construction costs is the relocation of existing water and gas lines, and the design, construction and furnishing of several prototype offices.

Ms. Mazey expressed her enthusiasm for this multi-million dollar project.

“This is an exciting time for Bowling Green State University,” she said. “The University is energized and moving forward on many fronts to provide our students the most up-to-date programs and the best learning facilities based on what the workplace demands. The Maurer Center will be a premier learning environment that will help equip our students to meet the challenges of the global economy.

The Maurer Center is scheduled to open in the fall of 2020.

During Friday’s meeting, Ms. Mazey also outlined some of her goals for the university this upcoming school year.

Her objectives included implementing new academic programs that responds to workforce needs such as cyber security and social media, improving the universities retention and graduation rates, promoting and ensuring the educational benefits of diversity tolerance and expanding their student body count through offering more Master’s programs and online classes.

In other business, the board approved to unite the departments of architecture and environmental design and construction management. The new school will be renamed the School of the Built Environment located in the College of Technology, Architecture and Applied Engineering.

Contact Javonte Anderson at janderson@theblade.com, 419-724-6065, or on Twitter @JavonteA.

First Published October 13, 2017, 7:01 p.m.