University of New Mexico President Bob Frank won’t finish out his term as head of the state’s largest university, but he will keep getting paid.
That’s part of the deal the UNM Board of Regents made with Frank after a meeting Tuesday morning. The meeting marked the second time in a week that the board met to discuss Frank’s future in light of a report that criticized his management style, which was described by some as “bullying.”
After more than three hours behind closed doors last week, the regents took no action.
But they came back Tuesday morning and announced the deal, which included paid administrative leave starting at the beginning of 2017 and lasting until his term was scheduled to end on May 31.
Frank had previously announced he would not seek a second term as president.
Related: UNM regents make no decision on Frank’s future
Shortly after his announcement, he received a position as tenured faculty at the UNM Health Sciences Center, with a salary of more than $350,000 per year.
With the deal reached between the regents and Frank, he will still get that position on June 1, but the salary will instead be $190,000 per year.
Frank will be the director of the Center for Innovation and Health and Education.
While Frank is on administrative leave, provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Chaouki Abdallah will take over as acting president, and Craig White will be acting provost. White is a dean at the Anderson School of Management.
Abdallah will take over on Jan. 1.
Also as part of the plan, according to UNM, Frank and his wife Janet will leave the University House by Mar. 1.
Regents are currently searching for the next university president.
