Did President Ferguson break his contract with the university when he left early?
A reading of his contract leaves that and other questions unanswered, and Rick Hall, chairman of the Board of Trustees, insisted that the decision was mutual.
Video: Tony Sandleben - NewsLink Indiana
According to his original contract signed in Summer 2014, Ferguson was set to stay in his position until June 2019.
He could leave early by giving at least 180 days notice to the Board of Trustees, according to the contract, which says he would have to pay back some of his salary for each month he leaves early without giving the required notice.
But another element of the contract may raise other questions about what prompted the departure.
Section 14.6 of the contract says the president can leave at any time with only 30 days notice, "if the president concludes in good faith that because of changes in the composition or policies of the Board of Trustees... he can no longer properly and effectively discharge his duties as president."
When asked which section of the contract applied, Chairman Hall directed the Daily News to file a records request for the resignation contract.
Ferguson's original contract stated that both he and the board "desire[d] and anticipate[d] a long-term relationship."
Ferguson has had one of the the shortest terms of any full university president — the same as Jerry Anderson, who served for 18 months and resigned.
Former President Jo Ann Gora also broke her contract early. She retired in Spring 2014 and her contract was set to last through the 2016-17 school year.
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