MSU extends contract with West Plains chancellor

Missouri State University has extended its contract for two years with the chancellor of its West Plains campus.

Drew Bennett, who has held the position since July 2007, agreed to an 8 percent pay raise to $150,000 in fiscal 2013. His previous salary was $138,822. The compensation package includes a membership to the West Plains Country Club and living privileges in the designated West Plains campus chancellor's residence, Richards Home, according to a news release.

“In the past five years, Drew has provided good leadership for the West Plains campus. Enrollment has grown, relationships in the seven counties have been strengthened, and the West Plains campus has become more integrated with the rest of the Missouri State system," MSU Interim President Clif Smart said in the release.

The MSU Board of Governors approved the contract extension during its June 22 meeting, which was held in West Plains.

With the contract extension, Bennett, who retired from the U.S. Marine Corps as a colonel in 2007 after 30 years, will remain chancellor through June 30, 2014.