The Utah Board of Higher Education has updated its policy to prevent university presidents facing credible allegations of misconduct from collecting full salaries for up to a year upon resignation. The change comes after former Utah Tech University President Richard “Biff” Williams resigned while under investigation for alleged sexual harassment and misconduct. Williams continued to receive his full salary for six months after stepping down and transitioning to a new job as the president of Missouri State University. The policy update now limits this benefit to only apply if there are no findings of serious misconduct.
A federal lawsuit revealed that Williams had been reported for inappropriate behavior before his resignation, including an incident where he left a phallic gift on a vice president’s porch. This led to claims of retaliation against employees who reported the incident and a “sham investigation” to protect the former president. Williams has apologized for his actions but denied other allegations of misconduct.
The policy change is meant to strengthen accountability and ensure that university presidents serve with distinction. The unique post-presidential pay arrangement is designed to encourage faculty to apply for president roles by allowing them to return to their positions after serving as administrators. The pay does not apply if a president immediately accepts a new position elsewhere or is terminated for cause. The search for a new president at Utah Tech is ongoing.
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