CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Higher Education Chancellor Dr. Paul Hill said Monday there are a few things to clear up before a contract is finalized with new WVU President E. Gordon Gee. The HEPC confirmed Gee’s hire Monday.
The WVU Board of Governors voted last week to hire Gee for his second stint in Morgantown. Hill said a two-year contract should be done in a short period of time.
“They have a few minor details that now will require me to clear up and finalize those with the university and with the president,” Chancellor Hill said.
The HEPC’s vote Monday was not unanimous, Dr. John Leon voted against the confirmation. HEPC Chairman Dr. Bruce Berry called Gee “a vibrant leader with unmatched credentials.” Berry interviewed Gee by phone last week.
Chancellor Hill said he knew Gee by reputation but had not met him until he returned to WVU in January as president for a term.
“He is a very understated man and one as you get to know you begin to understand his deep knowledge of higher education and its administration,” Hill said.
The WVU BOG originally said Gee would not be a candidate for the permanent job but after a brief time on campus changed its mind. The HEPC signed off on that change.
The chancellor doesn’t anticipate any problems with getting Gee’s two-year deal finalized. The current agreement expires June 30.
“We have a draft document and everyone needs to agree on that,” he said. “This is not uncommon; in fact, this is the way we do it almost each and every time.”
The terms of the contract will be released once it’s signed.