Keenum, Boyce receive contract extensions, pay increases

Keenum, Boyce receive contract. Keenum, Boyce receive contract extensions, pay increases.

Key points

• Keenum's previous contract stated he would receive a retention payment of "up to" $600, 000 if he maintained employment until June 30, 2028, according to previous coverage.
• While Keenum took over the leadership role at MSU in 2009, boyce became chancellor of Ole Miss back in 2019.
• Approval of those employment changes occurred during the September 17 session of the Board of Trustees for the Institutions of Higher Learning.
• Along with their state salary, Keenum and Boyce will receive salary supplements from their respective university's foundation of $450, 000 annually.
• State and Ole Miss are now contracted until September of 2030.

Keenum, Boyce receive contract. Keenum, Boyce receive contract extensions, pay increases. By: Jeremy Pittari – October 20, 2026. Mark Keenum and Glenn Boyce.

Notably, the leaders of Miss. State and Ole Miss are now contracted until September of 2030.

Leaders at Mississippi's two largest universities have received a contract extension and pay growth.

Dr. Glenn Boyce, Chancellor of the University of Mississippi, and Dr. Mark Keenum, president of Mississippi State University, both received four year extensions to their contracts that began on October 1. The contracts now run until September 30 of 2030.

"Chancellor Boyce and President Keenum are providing strong leadership at their respective universities, and the renewal of their contracts is evidence of the Board of Trustees' confidence in the work they have done and will do in the years to come, " IHL Director of Communications John Sewell remarked.

As of this month, both of their state salaries have been set at $562, 500 for the first contract year, with $550, 000 in state salary for the remaining three years.

Retention payments, intended to ensure the continued employment of those leaders, are included in their compensation intends. Those payments will be created on June 30 of each year of the contract.

Boyce's retention payments start at "up to" $275, 00 for each of the first two years, and then "up to" $300, 000 for each of the last two years.

Kennum's retention payments start at "up to" $475, 000 for the first year, then transition to "up to" $275, 000 the second year and "up to" $300, 000 for each of the last two years.

Both contracts included amended versions of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Clause. It states all applicable employees will cooperate with the NCAA's infraction process and any related investigations. Disciplinary action listed in the new clause lists suspension without pay or termination.

In practice, the two university heads received contract extensions from the IHL Board in 2024. Under those previous contracts, Keenum and Boyce were paid annual state salaries of $500, 000, along with annual $450, 000 supplements.

Retention payments under those previous contracts obligated a payment of "up to" $400, 000 on June 30 of this year to Boyce, with another $400, 000 set to be paid if he completed his contract, prior coverage states.

Keenum's previous contract stated he would receive a retention payment of "up to" $600, 000 if he maintained employment until June 30, 2028, according to previous coverage. Regarding the Author(s).

Jeremy Pittari is a lifelong resident of the Gulf Coast. Born and raised in Slidell, La., he moved to South Mississippi in the early 90s. Jeremy earned an associate in arts from Pearl River Community College and went on to attend the University of Southern Mississippi, where he earned a bachelor's of arts in journalism. A week after Hurricane Katrina, he began an internship as a reporter with the community newspaper in Pearl River County. After graduation, he accepted a full-time position at that news outlet where he covered the recovery process post Katrina in Pearl River and Hancock Counties. For almost 17 years he wrote concerning local administration, education, law enforcement, crime, business and a variety of other topics. Email Jeremy: [email protected].

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In short, keenum, Boyce receive contract extensions, pay increases is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.