The Florida A&M University Board of Trustees voted 8-5 to accept revisions to Dr. Elmira Mangum's employment contract that she had initially agreed to in late January. Some trustees expressed concerns about Mangum's compensation package as an untested president. However, other trustees felt she was the most qualified candidate. The amended contract stipulates that if Mangum steps down within two years, she will receive a six-month sabbatical rather than 12 months. Her appointment is still subject to approval by the Florida Board of Governors.
FAMU Board of Trustees and Mangum Agree on Amended Contract--AE
1. Vol. 40, No. 08 Section 01 Tallahassee, Florida Feb. 20-26, 2014
www.capitaloutlook.com
50 cents
FAMU Board of Trustees and Mangum
Agree on Amended Contract
By Aldranon
English II
Outlook Staff
Writer
Prolonged delib-
erations between
Florida A&M’s
Board of Trustees
and President-elect
Elmira Mangum
came to an end with
some clarity on Feb.
13 and should bring
the arrival of the
university’s 11th
president April 1.
A distinctly di-
vided board voted
8-5 to accept the
revisions Mangum
requested to her
contract – revisions
that she initially
agreed to in late
January with Trust-
ee Chairman Solo-
mon Badger. Trust-
ee Narayan Persaud
was adamant about
finding resolution
after Thursday’s
meeting.
“At the end of the
deliberations, we
would find our an-
swer,” said Persaud.
Trustee Glen-
ton Gilzean Jr.
addressed con-
cerns and asked
for clarification for
the language and
text of the modified
contract, including
amendments made
by Mangum. Trust-
ee Rufus Mont-
gomery made more
than five motions
to amend the new
contract and Trust-
ee Kelvin Lawson
also attempted to
have a provision for
a car stripped from
Mangum’s contract,
but all failed by 8-5
or 7-6 votes.
Trustee Lawson
continued to vent
his frustrations with
the compensation
package for Mang-
um.
“I think these ad-
ditional changes are
trivial,” said Law-
son. “I continue to
have heartburn over
an untested presi-
dent who hasn’t
proven herself yet
as a leader.”
Although Mont-
gomery’s senti-
ments echoed Law-
son’s, he agreed
overall that she is
the right individual
for the position.
“Out of all the
other candidates,
I think she is the
most qualified,”
said Montgomery.
During the two
and half hour con-
ference, trustees
found themselves
bewildered on what
was the basis of the
meeting.
“This is a con-
tract, and we are
not here to establish
policies,” said Per-
suad.
Trustee Spurgeon
McWilliams asked
pivotal questions
concerning the mo-
tions that were pre-
sented.
“Are we voting
for the same things
we voted on a week
ago?” asked Mc-
Williams. “Is it be-
cause Mangum did
not approve?”
Trustee Belinda
Shannon demys-
tified ambiguity
that shrouded each
member during the
conference.
“We are in ne-
gotiations, and she
asked us to recon-
sider,” said Shan-
non.
Dr. Elmira Mang-
um, vice president
for planning and
budget at Cornell
University, must
sign off on a change
that a majority of
the trustees agreed
to; if she steps down
in two years or less,
she will be eligible
for a six month sab-
batical rather than
12 months. The mo-
tion passed 8-4. She
also must be ap-
proved by the Flori-
da Board of Gover-
nors meeting next
week in Tampa.
Mangum’s pro-
posed base salary
is nearly $100,000
higher than what
FAMU paid former
President James
Ammons when he
started his tenure in
2007.
Photo special to the Outlook
Elmira Mangum