The following is a statement issued Friday October 11, 2019 by Wendell Weakley, UM Foundation President/CEO
The State of Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) has requested that the University of Mississippi Foundation Board (UMF Board) consider a salary supplement for the Chancellor position of $500,000 annually. The UMF Board will meet soon to consider that request. On October 10, 2019, the IHL issued a press release clarifying that the UMF Board is under no obligation to agree to provide the supplement.
Consistent with the IHL’s statement, to my knowledge, there has been no communication between an IHL trustee and UMF Board members suggesting that Section 7.6 of our current Affiliation Agreement between the University of Mississippi and The University of Mississippi Foundation should be considered by our Board in reaching a decision on the request for the supplement.
I am confident our Board will consider all relevant information and through deliberations will make an informed decision that is in the best interest of our beloved university. We plan to make no further comment on this matter until our Board has had an opportunity to meet, conduct appropriate deliberations and reach a conclusion.