University curators meet again about presidency

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Curators of the University of Missouri voted in closed session Monday while searching for a new president but declined to say whether they had hired an administrator for the four-campus system.

Board president John Mathes said a vote was taken during the teleconference meeting, but he declined to discuss the topic of the vote or its result.

Among the curators' top candidates for the job is Elson Floyd, president at Western Michigan University.

Richard St. John, chairman of the Western Michigan Board of Trustees, told the Columbia Daily Tribune on Monday that Floyd had been offered the University of Missouri position. But St. John said he didn't know if Floyd had accepted it.

"I know that he has delayed his decision, mulling over some things, and he said he would be back in contact with us," St. John said. "He had some other things to talk to them about."

Floyd, through a spokesman, declined to comment Monday.

University of Missouri spokesman Joe Moore said curators had entered into negotiations with a candidate, but he declined to say whether an agreement was reached. He said the university could make an announcement soon about the presidency.

Under Missouri's open meetings and records law, any vote to hire someone must be made public no later than 72 hours after it is taken.

St. John said Western Michigan has made Floyd a counteroffer in hope of retaining him, but he declined to say what the offer included.

"This is a tough decision for him, and we don't want to lose him," St. John said.

Floyd earns $220,000 as the Western Michigan president. Retiring University of Missouri President Manuel Pacheco earns $260,000.

Floyd was been president of the Kalamazoo, Mich., institution since August 1998. If hired by the University of Missouri, he would be its first black president.