photo by: Associated Press

In this file photo from Sept. 13, 2012, Blake Flanders talks with members of the State Board of Education in Montgomery, Ala., during an interview for chancellor of the state's two-year college system. Flanders has been president and CEO of the Kansas Board of Regents since July 2015. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

The Kansas Board of Regents approved a 15 percent pay raise for Regents President and CEO Blake Flanders during its Thursday board meeting.

The pay raise comes at a time when state universities, including KU, are facing budget challenges. Regents leaders said compensation studies found Flanders’ salary was below that of many other executives who oversee other state university systems.

“While it might seem like a significant jump, it’s what is needed to be done to bring him in line with other salaries,” said Dennis Mullin, board chairman.

Flanders’ prior salary was $200,000, and it will increase to $230,000, according to Matt Keith, a spokesman with the Regents office.

In a recent survey by the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, Keith noted of the 28 CEO positions at governing board agencies, the 25th percentile for the group was $277,205.

“This adjustment for Blake will still leave him below the 25th percentile, but he will be closer, recognizing that Kansas is a smaller state, with a lower cost of living,” Keith said.

Flanders has been serving as the Regents leader since 2015 after Reggie Robinson left to serve as Vice-Chancellor for Public Affairs at the University of Kansas.

Before serving in his current position, Flanders served as the vice president for workforce development for the Kansas Board of Regents and provided executive leadership for the Kansas Postsecondary Technical Education Authority.

Flanders is a graduate of Colby Community College and Kansas State University, where he earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees, including his doctorate degree in philosophy in curriculum and instruction.