Scott Ward
VICTORY TOWNSHIP — West Shore Community College’s Board of Trustees is expected to extend President Scott Ward’s contract by one year and approve a 5.131% salary increase during its regular meeting Monday, July 20.
The board will meet at 4 p.m. in the John M. Eaton Board Room on the college’s main campus. Consideration of Ward’s contract is listed under the Board Executive Committee report on the meeting agenda.
According to a memorandum from Board Chair Sherry Wyman, the Board Executive Committee is recommending several changes to Ward’s employment agreement, all retroactive to July 1, 2026. The recommendations include:
• Extending Ward’s contract by one year, moving its expiration date from June 30, 2028, to June 30, 2029.
• Increasing his salary by 5.131%.
• Keeping his annual social and community activities allowance unchanged.
• Keeping his educational expense reimbursement unchanged.
• Keeping his annual annuity contribution unchanged.
• Keeping his monthly automobile allowance unchanged.
The proposed changes follow the board’s annual evaluation of Ward conducted June 8. Trustees concluded Ward “continues to demonstrate exemplary leadership” and said he met expectations in most performance categories while exceeding expectations in many others. They cited his leadership in strategic planning, workforce development, educational innovation and community engagement.
The evaluation also highlighted several accomplishments during the past year, including West Shore’s record number of graduates in 2026, development of the college’s Hart campus initiative and the successful renewal of the college’s capital millage.
Ward’s current contract, which took effect July 1, 2025, is a three-year agreement running through June 30, 2028. It establishes a fiscal year 2025-26 base salary of $194,900, with the board reviewing compensation annually. The contract also provides an $850 monthly automobile stipend, up to $9,000 annually for educational expenses, a $7,500 annual social and community activities allowance, and an $18,000 annual annuity contribution.
The contract also provides for an annual performance evaluation and allows the board each year to consider extending the agreement by one additional year. If the board declines to extend the contract, the existing expiration date remains in effect.
If approved Monday, Ward’s salary would increase by 5.131% over his current base salary of $194,900, bringing it to approximately $204,900 annually, while all other compensation provisions would remain unchanged.
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