U of I approves contract extension for president

SPRINGFIELD _ University of Illinois trustees have voted to extend President Joseph White's contract by a year and a half.

The board, meeting in Springfield Thursday, didn't give White a raise with the extension. He makes $450,000 a year.

Board Chairman Lawrence Eppley has said White is doing a terrific job but a pay increase isn't appropriate given the current economic downturn.

White came to the university in 2005 from the University of Michigan.

Trustees discussed the extension during a closed-door meeting last month.