AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — University of Texas System regents are to meet in Austin a day after the system announced the president of the Austin flagship campus will step down in June 2015.
Thursday’s meeting was seen as a day University of Texas at Austin President bill Powers could possibly be fired after years of clashes with Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa and several board members. Cigarroa had wanted Powers to resign by October or risk being fired.
But prominent alumni, faculty and state lawmakers rallied to Powers’ defense. Powers met with Cigarroa and board Chairman Paul Foster to negotiate an alternative exit deal that gives him another year on the job.
Powers’ employment remains on the agenda for a closed-door discussion, but his firing would seem unlikely after system officials announced a deal.