KALAMAZOO, MI – The Western Michigan University Board of Trustees unanimously approved a 2.5 percent raise for President John Dunn at a special meeting Wednesday.

"I think it's well deserved," said Trustee Ron Hall, via speaker-phone, before the vote.

The percentage was commensurate with raises offered to other non-represented employees of the university during the 2013-14 academic year, according to the Board's recommendation. The raise will be retroactive to Jan. 6.

Dunn's base salary will be $382,776, an increase of $9,336 over last year.

"I appreciate very much the support of the trustees and I thank you for the vote of confidence," Dunn said after the vote.

Since he arrived at WMU in 2007, Dunn has donated any amount he receives above his starting salary of $345,000, traditionally to the university's scholarship funds. This year, that amount will total $37,776.

At the meeting, Dunn said he will be donating his raise again this year.

"As has been my pattern, I am happy to share those dollars with our scholarship fund," he said.

Yvonne Zipp is a staff writer at the Kalamazoo Gazette. Email her at yzipp@mlive.com or follow her on Twitter.