It's not every day a story about me is published in the Daily Kansan, the student newspaper here:

Kansas Spanish Professor Jonathan Mayhew has signed a new, five-year contract that guarantees him at least $1.5 million a year, according to an announcement made today.

The new contract more than doubles his guaranteed salary, which was previously nearly $610,000 a season. The contract is written to begin Jan. 1, 2006 and expires following the 2010 academic year. The new contract make Mayhew the fifth-highest paid Big 12 Spanish Professor.

"I want to thank Chancellor Hemenway for his strong and continued support," Mayhew said in a release. "We all share the same vision for excellence in our Spanish program."

In the new agreement, Mayhew's base salary is raised from $128.438 to $220.000. He will also be paid $1.28 million for public appearances and radio and television shows. The contract also pays as much as $650,000 in incentives.

"This is a significant day in the history of the Kansas Spanish program," Kansas Chancellor Hemenway said. "Jonathan Mayhew has done an excellent job reviving this program. I think it's important that we not only reward Jonathan for the job he's done, but also give him the support and stability he needs to continue to turn this Spanish program into a top-tier program. We are happy to be able to make this announcement before this academic year starts."