The Murray State Board of Regents voted at their quarterly meeting to not extend President Randy Dunn’s contract.
Seven of the board members voted to not extend his contract; four members voted yes. Dunn’s contract is set to expire in June of 2014.
Faculty Regent Jack Rose, Staff Regent Phil Schooley, Susan Guess and Jenny Sewell voted in favor of renewing his contract, while the other seven board members voted against the contract renewal.
Student Regent Jeremiah Johnson, Board Chairmen Constantine Curris, Vice-Chair Marilyn Buchanan, Stephen Williams, Harry Lee Waterfield, Sharon Green, Jerry Sue Thornton voted against the renewal.
Vice-Chair Marilyn Buchanan moved to create a search committee to find the next University President, passed by a 9-0 vote by the Board. Schooley and Rose did not vote.
Chairman Curris denies allegations of politics or personal agendas playing a role in board’s decision.
President Dunn thanked the board for the opportunity to serve and said he would be pursuing other venues. He then promptly left the room following the adjournment.
UPDATE: Faculty Regent Jack Rose resigned from the Board of Regents Friday afternoon
The board also approved a list of recommendations for immediate cuts and new revenue for the University with some modifications. They are reserving the right to make changes as they see needed.
One item that was modified was item 64 on the budget cut recommendation list has been modified from reducing the number of cell phone and data stipends provided by half to now include eliminating almost all stipends except for a few exceptions that include critical services.
Administrators will now begin budget planning for the next academic year.
Other highlights from the meeting were Faculty Regent Jack Rose said there were 84 applicants for the provost and vice president of Academic Affairs search after Bonnie Higginson announced her resignation last semester. The search committee has narrowed the applicant pool to four.
Kim Oatman, director of Facilites Management, presented a list of several general fund capital project requests for 2014-2020. Some of the projects include finishing the final phase of new science complex, renovating Blackburn Science Building and constructing a new University library to replace Waterfield and Pogue libraries.
The next quarterly meeting will be in May.
Story by, Meghann Anderson, News Editor.