The University of Michigan disclosed a contract that could pay incoming president Kent Syverud up to $3 million a year, making him one of the highest‑paid public university presidents in the U.S. Syverud, who leaves Syracuse University this summer, will earn a $2 million base and up to a 30% performance award; the contract also includes retirement contributions and generous post‑presidency leave and faculty pay provisions. The package was defended by university spokespeople as commensurate with the complexity of leading a major public research university. In a separate governance shock, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln saw chancellor Rodney Bennett exit six months early with a reported $1.1 million separation package amid faculty anger over program cuts. Bennett’s departure has spotlighted trustee decision‑making, the political pressures facing public campus leaders, and the shrinking average tenure of presidents and chancellors. Together, the Michigan and Nebraska items signal heightened board scrutiny of executive pay, performance metrics, and political risk for leaders of public institutions.