The FAMU Board of Trustees approved a separation agreement Thursday that called for President Elmira Mangum to step down immediately. FAMU officials on Tuesday attributed the higher ranking to continuing improvements in student graduation and retention rates, a focus for university President Elmira Mangum.
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Mangum agreed with the board’s decision, saying, “I believe it is clear there is no way forward”. He’s now a professor in the university’s Environmental Sciences Institute. The board tapped former Provost Larry Robinson to be the interim leader of the school, the third time he’s held that position.
Dr. Mangum faced criticism almost from the beginning of her tenure at the helm of Florida’s flagship historically black university. At that point, she becomes eligible for a yearlong sabbatical and would have the option to return to the university as a tenured professor.
FAMU’s national recognition comes as the school’s Board of Trustees is poised to renew a debate this week on ending Mangum’s presidency.
“I would just suggest that going forward, the board try to place honor and integrity as part of its negotiation with future president”, said Mangum.
Under a proposal worked out with Mangum’s attorney, she would continue to receive her $425,000 a year salary as president until March 31 of next year. Over the summer, board members delayed a decision on extending her contract, which runs through March 31, then rejected a one-year extension.
Mangum simply wished that the board maintain better relations with the next president.
That panel voted Wednesday to send the agreement to the full board for its approval. Hired in 2014, she was the university’s 11th full-time president and first woman to serve in the role.
Other factors in the survey included peer assessments, faculty resources, student selectivity and financial resources.
Mangum’s tenure at FAMU was rocky from the start, and she had tense relationships with a few trustees. After the failed attempt to terminate Mangum a year ago, students marched to Gov. Rick Scott’s office to support her.
Trustee Thomas Dortch said that, “Being intelligent and being a great educational expert also requires that you got to work with all stakeholders. And at the end of the day, this board of trustees is her boss”.
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Information provided by The News Service of Florida.
