The University of Louisville Board of Trustees voted 10-3 on Wednesday to terminate the contract of Vice-President for Athletics and Athletics Director Tom Jurich 鈥渨ith cause.鈥 The board met in executive session for more than two hours before voting to fire the man who has led UofL Athletics since 1997. Interim President Dr. Greg Postel thanked Jurich for his service and told reporters the university will continue its strong commitment to student-athletes and the athletics program. .听
The trustees also heard an update on the university鈥檚 financial picture from interim CFO Susan Howarth. Howarth says UofL鈥檚 cost cutting efforts are working and there is 鈥済ood news鈥 in the numbers. UofL is meeting its budget targets and on pace to meet its goal of spending $10 million less than the 2016-17 fiscal year in each of three categories: compensation, procurement and other cost savings.
鈥淲e feel very comfortable about meeting these goals,鈥 Howarth said.
Howarth says first quarter revenues are running ahead of last year鈥檚 and a slight drop in the size of the freshman class has been offset by an increase in enrollment at the Brandeis School of Law.
The board also took two actions designed to address the two remaining concerns of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, UofL鈥檚 accreditation agency:
- Approved memoranda of understanding between the university and both the UofL Real Estate Foundation and Pediatric Medical Office Building, Inc.
- Approved a resolution in support of administrators currently filling interim roles
Also, faculty members Susan Jarosi and Rob Keynton appeared before the full board expressing concerns about the board鈥檚 plan to conduct a closed search for the next UofL President. Jarosi and Keynton head the Presidential Search Faculty Consultation Committee and laid out reasons the board should conduct a more open search process, reveal the three finalists and bring them to campus for meetings with faculty, staff and students before a final decision is made. Due to time constraints there was no discussion following the presentation, but board chair David Grissom invited the faculty members to appear at the next meeting for a question and answer session.听
