BOT committee recommends one-year contract extension for Robinson

Yesterday, the Special Committee on Presidential Leadership for the FAMU Board of Trustees (BOT) voted to recommend a one-year contract extension for Interim President Larry Robinson.

“I am humbled by the vote of the committee to allow me to continue my service to this great institution,” Robinson said in a quote published by the Tallahassee Democrat. “I look forward to the full Board of Trustees taking up this issue next week.”

The committee is chaired by Thomas Dortch Jr. Its other members are Student Body President Justin Bruno, Faculty Senate President Bettye Grable, David Lawrence Jr., and Belvin Perry. The committee approved the recommendation with a 5-0 vote.

Back on September 15, 2016, Robinson began a one-year employment agreement. It states that: “The Board hereby employs Dr. Robinson as Interim President for a term of one (1) year commencing on September 15, 2016, which will continue until the appointment and arrival of a permanent president subject to confirmation by the Board of Governors, whichever occurs sooner, unless otherwise terminated as provided herein. Any renewals or extensions of this agreement requires a majority vote of the Board and the written consent of Dr. Robinson.” 

The full BOT will consider the committee’s recommendation during a conference call scheduled for September 12.

On August 18, the BOT voted 11-0 to request approval from the Florida Board of Governors (BOG) for a waiver of its requirement to conduct a national search. Chair Kelvin Lawson, who asked trustees to take that action, has said that such a waiver would provide trustees with an expanded set of options as it moves forward with selecting the 12th permanent president.  

The BOG has not announced a timeline for an official response to the waiver request. Its next meeting is scheduled for November.