NACOGDOCHES, Texas — One 12 months after approving an $85,000 pay elevate for Stephen F. Austin College President Scott Gordon, the Board of Regents introduced Sunday that it had “mutually agreed” to half methods with him, stating that it was within the “finest curiosity of each events for the employment relationship to finish.”

The board introduced the choice at a gathering after convening for 4 hours in government session Sunday afternoon, the Texas Tribune reported.

Board Chair Karen Gantt didn’t present a cause for the choice on the assembly. She thanked Gordon for main the college by the pandemic and his efforts with the varsity’s $100 million capital marketing campaign. SFA spokesperson Graham Garner mentioned the assertion learn on the assembly is the one obtainable info at the moment. Gordon was not on the assembly.

The board appointed Steve Westbrook, the vice chairman for college affairs from 2007-20, to function the interim president, efficient instantly. Westbrook has labored at SFA since 1981 and earned bachelor’s and grasp’s levels from the Nacogdoches college.

Gordon assumed the college presidency within the fall of 2019. He beforehand served because the vice provost of Japanese Washington College. His predecessor, Baker Pattillo, had served as president for greater than a decade till he died in 2018.

Final April, the board authorised an $85,000 pay bump for Gordon with a further $25,000 enhance annually for the following two years as a part of a contract renegotiation. Curiously, the board signed off on the modifications in the identical assembly the place directors warned that the varsity was dealing with a tricky financial scenario because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In truth, Gordon had referred to as for voluntary retirements, tutorial cuts and employees furloughs to attempt to tackle a funds shortfall in 2020. College mentioned they didn’t obtain wage will increase final 12 months as a result of funds points.

The college neighborhood found the pay enhance in August, when the authorised annual funds was made public, angering school, college students and employees members.

Gordon returned the elevate at a particular board assembly in early September. Nevertheless it didn’t appease school, who took a vote of no confidence in his management a couple of days later. Deans and division chairs issued their very own statements supporting the vote. So did the SFA Workers Council.

College had expressed considerations with Gordon’s management final summer season after he made broad modifications to class schedules, reducing many commonplace 16-week programs into eight-week programs. The decision of no confidence additionally accused Gordon of bullying staff on a number of events and exhibiting “unreasonably impatient habits each in private and non-private.”

Board leaders organized a set of listening classes with school and tutorial division chairs to attempt to tackle the considerations. In these conferences, school advised The Texas Tribune that Gordon revealed he and the administration have been struggling to get a deal with on the college’s funds.

In the end, the board determined at a particular assembly in late September to maintain him with out rationalization, calling on him to restore the tense relationship with school.

Matthew Beauregard, a SFA math and statistics professor who serves as interim chair of each the physics, engineering and astronomy division and the pc science division, indicated the connection had remained fraught.

He mentioned Gantt had established a gathering with division chairs, the College Senate, the Workers Council, the Deans Council and the president. However Gordon by no means met instantly with these representatives.

“I’m relieved that the Board of Regents has taken the mandatory steps to maneuver our college ahead,” Beauregard wrote in an electronic mail. “There are thrilling occasions forward for our college! I’m hopeful that this announcement will reinforce the unity amongst tutorial affairs as we transfer by this era of transition.”

This story comes from our KHOU 11 Information companions at The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media group that informs Texans – and engages with them – about public coverage, politics, authorities, and statewide points.