MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees held a special virtual meeting this afternoon, where members approved both a new employment contract for incoming President Dr. Chris Olsen and a collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME union employees.
Olsen’s appointment will officially begin on January 5, 2026, and his contract extends through June 30, 2031. Under the agreement, he will receive a base salary of $475,000 per year, along with $50,000 in annual deferred compensation, eligibility for performance-based bonuses, and the use of a university-provided vehicle. Since NMU no longer maintains an on-campus presidential residence, Olsen will also be provided a $50,000 annual housing stipend.
Board Chair Steve Young expressed appreciation for the team responsible for structuring the compensation package, noting that it ensures NMU remains competitive with other universities in the state. “We’re eager to welcome Dr. Olsen in January,” Young said. “We’re also grateful to Interim President Gavin Leach for his steady leadership during this transition period.”
In addition to Olsen’s contract, trustees ratified a three-year labor agreement with NMU’s AFSCME union, which represents 119 employees in food service and maintenance roles. The new contract, approved by union members in late October, includes a minimum 6% pay increase in the first year—through a combination of market and across-the-board adjustments—and 3% raises in each of the following two years. The agreement remains in effect until September 30, 2028.
