By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
BGSU President Rodney Rogers has won the hearts of students with his homespun videos and golf cart rides across campus. And he has won the support of his board of trustees with record high enrollment and fundraising success.
Rogers is sought after by higher education officials across Ohio, and is the man at the top of a public university ranked in the top 20% nationwide and among the best in Ohio by U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 “Best Colleges” report.
For these achievements and more, the BGSU Board of Trustees voted Friday to reward Rogers with a salary increase and bonus.
The board of trustees approved a 2% annual increase – totaling $10,848 – to Rogers’ base salary, effective Sept. 1. All BGSU administrative staff received a 2% annual salary increase effective Sept. 1.
Since Rogers’ base compensation is below the median when compared to his peers at public universities in Ohio, the board also voted to award a discretionary bonus of 20% ($108,480) of his base salary.
The board also recognized the philanthropic generosity of Rogers and Dr. Sandra Earle, with their lifetime support of the BGSU Foundation, placing them in the Jerome Society of the Presidents Club.
Board Trustee Russell Martin talked about the momentum experienced at BGSU under Rogers.
“I know our president well enough to know he would recognize that none of this would get accomplished alone,” Martin said. But anyone in higher education also knows that “it doesn’t get done without a leader.”
Rogers thanked Martin for the kind words, adding, “We’re fortunate to be at a university that is focused on the right things.”
Trustees Board President Amy Shore also pointed out that when at statewide higher education gatherings, it is Rogers who others seek out for conversation.
“The most sought after person that the other university trustees wanted to talk to was our president,” Shore said of a recent higher education meeting.
On Friday, the board voted to acknowledge and reward Rogers for creating public good at BGSU during the last academic year by:
- Achieving record-breaking enrollments and student success rates for the second consecutive year as BGSU welcomed its largest and highest achieving freshman class in history. With growth in advanced healthcare and engineering programs, more than 4,000 students started the academic year with a cumulative 3.74 grade point average and an average ACT score of 25, increasing headcount by 4% over Fall 2024, by 14% over Fall 2023, and by 36% compared to Fall 2021.
- Providing access to Life Design to all undergraduate students through courses, coaching, programming and partnerships across the university; establishing career design coaching for all on-campus student employees through a partnership with Work + Collective; and expanding industry-engaged learning through a multi-year grant through Arizona State University and J.P. Morgan.
- Achieving fundraising success by securing more than $33.9 million in total commitments in fiscal year 2025.
- Successfully recruiting and placing a new provost and senior vice president to lead the efforts to elevate BGSU’s academic enterprise, better positioning the university’s academic portfolio and supporting the student experience as a 21st century public university.
- Successfully recruiting and placing a new vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer to lead the efforts to elevate BGSU’s business, financial and capital portfolios, supporting the institution’s mission and its aspirations to excel in the student experience.
- Implementing university-wide systems to evaluate productivity and suspension of admission into low-enrolled programs – reducing the number of hours to complete a degree to 120 credit hours where possible, in support of four-year graduation goals and student affordability.
- Leading higher education across Ohio and the region as the chair of the Council of Presidents of Inter-University Council of Ohio, chair of the Mid-American Conference visioning committee of athletics, the Northwest Ohio Academic Research Innovation Initiative and numerous high-profile speaking engagements.
- Continuing the implementation and enabling phases of the Master Plan 2024, including completing the renovation of Kohl Hall, undertaking the renovation of the Technology, Engineering and Innovation Center, and initiating the design process for Kreischer Quadrangle, scheduled to launch in early 2026.
These compensation awards are similar to those given by the board to Rogers in previous years.
In 2023, the trustees gave Rogers a 2.5% increase, which was in line with raises granted to other university employees, as well as a one-time bonus of $77,063, which amounted to 15% of his salary, and deferred compensation equal to 10% of his salary.
In 2024, all administrative staff at the university received a 3% annual salary increase, including Rogers, who received an equivalent 3% annual increase ($15,800) to his base salary. The board also awarded a discretionary bonus of 15% ($79,000) to his base salary.
