ORLANDO, Fla. — The UCF Board of Trustees on Thursday voted to extend Dr. Thad Seymour's term as interim president of the school.
- UCF board says Seymour has provided needed stability
- Florida Board of Governors must confirm decision
- $600,000 settlement to former president Whittaker OK'd
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In a meeting at the Fairwinds Alumni Center, Seymour was tapped to remain temporary interim president of the school after the resignation of President Dale Whittaker last month.
The trustees' decision must still be approved by the state Board of Governors, which is expected to consider the move at a meeting March 28.
The board also unanimously approved a one-time buyout of $600,000 to Whittaker, who agreed to the settlement terms, UCF said. Trustees also revoked payments to former President John Hitt for work he was supposed to do for the school after retirement. Hitt was president during the planning and construction of Trevor Colbourn Hall, which set off the UCF funding scandal.
UCF said the money to buy out Whittaker will come from private, nonstate funds.
Before becoming interim president, Seymour was handling the UCF Downtown project and was named the school's chief innovation officer.
Seymour's term as president was only supposed to be short-term because the state has to approve an official interim president.
However, the board of trustees says Seymour has provided stability since the UCF funding scandal that led to the resignation of several leaders, including Whittaker.
The full agenda for the meeting is available on the UCF website.