Presidents who have bonus opportunities generally say they are very pleased with the arrangements and with the opportunity for careful review and recognition of their work. Depending on your situation, you may have a special concern about health benefits. If you have young children or a spouse with health problems, this will be an important issue for you. Candidates who are getting close to retirement may be concerned about post-retirement health benefits. Whatever your special concerns may be regarding benefits, this is the time to address them.
Institutions use a number of enticements, beyond salary, to enhance a compensation package.
These include corporate board memberships, deferred compensation, and other vehicles that are far more likely to be found at the highest level of the administrative structure. In most situations, a position's title may be straightforward. As a dean or a provost, whether you are an assistant or an associate, for example, may be a factor in giving you greater clout on the campus. I believe strongly that every new appointee should know who will be evaluating him or her, what the criteria will be, and when evaluations will occur. In the flurry of activity at the moment of appointment, such details can be overlooked, and some candidates would prefer not to think about them.