The interim president of Florida Atlantic University received a glowing evaluation, a $75,000 bonus and an extension to her tenure, but her position remains uncertain due to a stalled search for a permanent leader.
Longtime administrator Stacy Volnick took over as interim president in January, and she agreed to stay in that role for up to a year, or until a permanent president was named.
But with her one-year anniversary approaching, and no permanent president in place, the Board of Trustees agreed Tuesday to extend her tenure until the end of 2024 or when a new president is hired, whichever comes first. The State University System Board of Governors suspended the search in July, citing anomalies.
Volnick’s base pay as interim president has been $500,000, and the trustees agreed Tuesday to give her a $75,000 bonus, citing stellar performance.
“Your performance as Interim President has been nothing short of extraordinary,” Brad Levine, chairman of the trustees, wrote in Volnick’s evaluation, which was approved unanimously. “The University has been incredibly fortunate and well-served by the experience, energy, and wisdom you have brought to the role.”
For her extended term, her salary will be $525,000, or up to $603,750 with potential bonuses.
And unlike when she first accepted the job, she will be allowed to apply for permanent president — if the search is opened up again. Volnick, who was the chief operating officer and vice president for administrative affairs, accepted the interim presidency position a year ago under the condition that she would not apply for the job permanently.
“If I were to be interested in applying, and that would be public, I think that that would change the applicant pool,” Volnick told the South Florida Sun Sentinel in a Jan. 6 interview. “I’ve been here many years. I enjoy what I’m doing. I enjoy the university, but I think it’s an opportunity for someone to come in with a fresh perspective.”
But FAU officials said at the meeting said that restriction was never put into her contract. In fact, she didn’t even have a signed contract, just a summary of salary, benefits and terms for her job, spokesman Joshua Glanzer told the Sun Sentinel on Tuesday afternoon in response to a public records request.
Volnick’s supporters praise her for her leadership in enhancing research, raising academics and capitalizing on FAU’s publicity after its men’s basketball team made it to the Final Four.
But the biggest factor in considering keeping Volnick on, they note, is the uncertainty created by the stalled presidential search.
The Board of Governors stopped the search July 7, two days after FAU had named three finalists, alleging anomalies in the process. An investigation from the Board of Governors’ inspector general has yet to be released. Chancellor Ray Rodrigues gave a brief update at a Board of Governors meeting Thursday, saying there would be a “more comprehensive update on this topic in the very near future.”
Last month, Attorney General Ashley Moody weighed in on one of the issues identified by the Board of Governors, concluding that using anonymous surveying to narrow candidates violated the state’s Sunshine Law, a method that an FAU presidential search committee used. Legal experts have predicted that means the university will likely have to redo the search.
The FAU Faculty Senate formally recommended in September that the university hire Volnick permanently. Several trustees said during Tuesday’s meeting they were open to moving forward with that now.
“Sounds like she has the full support of faculty, and I’m sure the students as well and probably the donor community,” trustee Rob Flippo said. “I think what we can’t afford is to be in limbo for a really long time. Certainly, I haven’t been given any indication the process is going to be resolved any time quickly.”
But several other trustees said it’s premature to make any moves to hire anyone until the Board of Governors completes its investigation and provides direction.
“Dr. Volnick has done a phenomenal job moving the university forward. Nobody is questioning that,” said Barbara Feingold, a trustee who has been critical of the search process. “But there are processes in place and rules and regulations for certain reasons and to try this short circuit or circumvent is not the right route. We can’t go that route.”
Volnick told the trustees she appreciated their support, regardless of what happens with the permanent job.
“What’s happening with the search is noise I don’t listen to,” she said. “I come in each day and focus on running the university so we can give our students the best experience we can.”
It’s unclear whether the trustees will continue to consider the three named as finalists by a search committee. They are: Vice Admiral Sean Buck, who recently retired as superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis; Michael Hartline, dean of the College of Business at Florida State University; and Jose Sartarelli, former chancellor of the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
Saratelli and Buck told the Sun Sentinel they are still interested in the job, while Hartline was unresponsive to the Sun Sentinel on Tuesday.
“I’d still like to be considered,” Buck said. “My name is still in it. But it’s been awfully quiet.”