Nonprofit Mississippi News A number of board members of the largest foundation that is associated with the University of Mississippi have reached an impasse with state college boards over Glenn Boyce’s salary. The University of Mississippi Foundation is a non-profit organization that has 37 members. It typically contributes a significant portion of the annual salary of the chancellor. The Institutions of Higher Learning oversees public universities and has requested that the foundation board contribute $500,000 to Boyce’s $800,000. Several foundation board members expressed concerns about the provision of the supplement following Boyce’s controversial appointment. Several UM Foundation board members asked not to be identified because they are not authorized for the foundation to speak on their behalf. They all used the word “infuriated” to describe the feeling of the foundation board. In an Oct. 6 email, Wendell Weakley (president and chief executive officer at the UM Foundation) wrote to foundation board members that Dr. Boyce never indicated that he was or would be a candidate for the position of chancellor. It was actually the opposite. As I recall him saying in April 26th board meeting, he wasn’t a candidate. Evidently that has changed at some time, but that wasn’t our understanding.” Mississippi Today obtained emails and interviewed several foundation board members. They revealed that there was a split over the issue of whether to pay the salary supplement. Many board members were calculating the consequences for breaking the precedent. The bylaw, which allows the chancellor or the IHL board to dissolve the foundation board at any time, is the core of their discussion. Boyce was appointed as chancellor in October. The IHL, which oversees the eight state public universities and colleges that approved the hiring, had previously requested the foundation to pay Boyce (an ex-IHL commissioner) as a consultant for the chancellor search. After months of national searching for a new chancellor for the state, the IHL board granted Boyce. Although Boyce did not apply for the job, board members described it as a “backdoor interview”, which was just seconds before they offered him the job. Boyce didn’t respond to an interview request. A spokeswoman from IHL sent a statement to Mississippi Today after the story was published. The agency distributed it as a news release. Caron Blanton, spokeswoman for IHL stated that “any rumors of a Board of Trustees considering replacing members of the governing body of the UM Foundation” were simply false. Ford Dye, who was the chair of the IHL search panel, has previously supported Boyce’s appointment. “Dr. Dye stated earlier this month that Glenn Boyce received the most nominations in the nominating process than anyone else. “We started a national search, and that process lasted for four months. “…As the national search was completed, it became apparent that Dr. Glenn Boyce was the most qualified candidate.” Mississippi Today has received a long email thread showing members of the foundation board split into three camps over how to proceed when they meet for an emergency meeting on Oct. 18. Some people believe that the foundation shouldn’t pay the supplement. Others were neutral or wanted legal advice before making a decision. The supplement was not paid by many foundation board members. The UM Foundation, a non-profit corporation chartered by Mississippi, manages the school’s $736 million endowment. It is the largest state university endowment. The UM Foundation has been supplementing the state’s maximum salary for chancellors of Mississippi, which is currently $300,000. Boyce would receive an additional $500,000 to his annual salary, which is equal to that of Mark Keenum, Mississippi State University President. A provision in a contract between both organizations is at the heart of the conflict between the UM Foundation board and the IHL Board. This provision, which some foundation board members call “the nuclear option”, gives the chancellor of the university and the IHL board the authority to replace or remove the entire foundation board if they feel the board is not in the university’s best interests. The affiliation agreement states that the University and Foundation both expect to have a mutually beneficial relationship. According to the affiliation agreement, “The University and Foundation expect there to exist a cooperative relationship between them.” The Board of Trustees has not requested that the University of Mississippi Foundation pay a Supplement. It has merely requested it, just as it did with the previous Chancellors and presidents of the eight state universities. Blanton, an IHL spokeswoman, stated that the Foundation does not have to provide the supplement. In an email sent to board members on Oct. 6, Weakley, the president and CEO of the foundation, reminded them of this provision. Weakley did no respond to our request for comment. The IHL board voted in August to eliminate that provision from all future university contracts. However, the current language will remain in effect until January 1, 2020. Boyce, who was present at university meetings this week and has been sitting in, will officially take office on Sunday, October 13. Several foundation board members shared their frustrations with Mississippi Today. They pointed out two main points of contention between Boyce and the IHL board. Mississippi Today spoke with board members that believe Boyce and IHL board were dishonest about Boyce’s consulting contract. Boyce was paid by the UM Foundation just over $87,000 for his work in the search. Boyce also repeatedly stated to foundation leaders that he wasn’t interested in the position of chancellor, according to emails. In an Oct. 6 email, Weakley provided details about Boyce’s contract with the foundation board. Weakley wrote, “If he were a candidate, the IHL shouldn’t have recommended him for consulting work, nor should they have agreed to engage them on their behalf.” “We just helped facilitate the work requested last year by the IHL.” Many foundation board members expressed frustration at the lack of an identical IHL mandate. The UM Foundation board was informed in November 2018 that Jeffrey Vitter, former Chancellor, had resigned. To fulfill Vitter’s contract, they would need to continue to pay Vitter until June 2020. Many foundation board members were unaware of Vitter’s buyout clause in his contract with IHL. Vitter will have received $900,000. from the UM Foundation between November 2018 and June 2020 to fulfill his IHL contract. On Oct. 18, the UM Foundation board will meet in an emergency meeting to discuss next steps. Cal Mayo is the foundation board’s attorney. He is an Oxonian and was one of the candidates who were interviewed last week for the chancellor position. The IHL board will meet in Jackson on Oct. 17. “The UM Foundation Board is not in an impasse. Blanton stated that the Foundation Board will vote at their next meeting, and that the Board of Trustees would accept any decision. Mississippi Today’s coverage of the chancellor search is available here.