Interim FAMU President Robinson to get $385K
Interim Florida A&M University President Larry Robinson will get $385,000 for his year at the helm of the state's only public historically black university.
During a teleconference call Thursday afternoon, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to the amount, which nearly doubles Robinson's current salary.
"We feel this is appropriate," Chairman Kelvin Lawson said, given the size and scope of FAMU compared to the other universities in the state university system. "It's not as big as the University of Florida, but it's comparable to some of the other universities in the system."
Trustee Gary T. McCoy said it was "more than fair."
Lawson explained that $200,000 would come from taxpayer funds, while the other $185,000 will come from the privately funded FAMU Foundation.
"The state only allows us to pay up to $200,000 from university funds," Lawson explained to Trustee Craig Reed.
The board worked with George Cotton, the foundation's executive director, to come up with the extra money, Lawson said.
Robinson began his term as interim president Sept. 15 after the ouster of Elmira Mangum. By Nov. 1, he must submit to Chairman Lawson a set of goals and objectives he plans to achieve over the next 12 months. The board will sign off on the plan at its next board meeting.
The compensation agreement also includes a six-month sabbatical at the end of the year as acting president. It allows Robinson to return to his position as a distinguished professor at his current salary of $203,000 a year.
Robinson will stay in his private home and keep his own vehicle, as he did the last time he served as interim president. He will get a $3,500 monthly housing stipend and a $1,200 monthly car allowance. Robinson has been interim president twice before.
The package includes membership to The Governor's Club and a local country club.
Robinson thanked board members for their generosity,
"I commend to you, I will earn every cent," he said.
After approving Robinson's contract, board members learned Mangum has not yet signed her exit agreement with the university. She was given until Oct. 6 to consider the agreement after she was fired earlier this month after 29 months as president. Since her departure, FAMU attorneys have been going back and forth with her lawyer negotiating final details.
Some board members expressed frustration, noting they didn't "want to get into an arm-wrestling match" with Mangum.
Ultimately, the board voted if she has not signed the contract by Oct. 6 its special committee on presidential leadership will reconvene to determine a course of action.
Contact Jeffrey Schweers at jschweers@tallahasssee.com.