U of I paying bill for flap over president
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The conflict at the University of Illinois that eventually led to President Michael Hogan’s resignation left behind legal and consulting costs that could reach $250,000.
The Chicago Tribune reported that after faculty members began publicly criticizing Hogan’s leadership style, the university began incurring expenses, including costs stemming from two meetings Hogan had in March with an executive coach.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” state Rep. Chapin Rose, a Mahomet Republican, said to the Tribune when learning about the executive coach. “Kids’ tuition is going up, they are laying off my constituents, and then you turn around and have a president (meeting with a coach)?”
The crisis at the university began in December when unsigned emails were sent to members of the Senate faculty about a report that was critical of some of the president’s proposals. The emails were eventually traced to a computer used by Hogan’s chief of staff, Lisa Troyer, who resigned.
Shortly after, faculty members began calling for Hogan’s ouster. He announced his resignation March 22.
According to university officials, neither Troyer nor Hogan, both now tenured faculty members, will be held personally responsible for the costs. Hogan’s salary will be $285,100 a year, while Troyer’s will be $109,000.
University spokesman Thomas Hardy said that while it’s disappointing to have to spend money on the crises, it should be expected.
“There is recognition that this is an unfortunate collateral result when these things happen,” Hardy said. “But they do happen, unfortunately, in large organizations, and you need to go in and deal with them, and that is what we have done.”
During the crisis, the university hired several outside consultants and companies that helped with legal advice and communications strategy, among other services. Among the costs is $160,582 going to law firm Jones Day and forensic data analysis firm Duff & Phelps for investigating the circumstances around the anonymous emails, the Tribune reported.
About $40,000 will be paid to public relations firm Jasculca Terman for helping with crisis communications surrounding the investigation and the release of the investigative report.
Law firm Jackson Lewis LLP was hired in February to represent the university on potential litigation regarding Troyer’s employment.
The university hasn’t been billed by Jackson Lewis yet, but the firm is to be paid $100 to $310 an hour, according to the contract.
The university paid management consultant M.J. Jiaras, of Integrated Coaching Solutions, $4,000 for his work with Hogan in March. Jiaras’ contract indicates he could get another $15,000 during the next five months if he continues working with the university. The contract is currently “paused,” Hardy said.
Bill Tyson, president of a national media relations firm that specializes in higher education, told the Tribune that colleges and universities sometimes need an outsider’s perspective during crises.
“Outside counsel can be critical in the sense of being that outside voice and adding to the discussion,” Tyson said.