CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Higher education experts like Dan L. King of the American Association of University Administrators say the University of Illinois’ decision to fire Chancellor Phyllis Wise rather than accept her resignation and pay her the bonus she negotiated puts the school in a place where few if any have been before.
University officials are quiet about why they decided to scrap the agreement and fire Wise. But Gov. Rauner’s administration made clear ahead of the vote that he opposed the bonus.
Now university officials like President Timothy L. Killeen acknowledge a lawsuit by Wise is possible. Killeen has assigned Wise a job reporting to him as an adviser.
University spokesman Tom Hardy said Thursday that Wise had yet to respond to the Wednesday vote or assignment.