HEPC gives ‘ok’ for new WVSU president to begin work; question incentives trends in college presidents’ contracts

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state Higher Education Policy Commission approved the hire of incoming West Virginia State University President Anthony Jenkins Wednesday while expressing concern about a growing trend about incentives in presidents’ contracts.

Jenkins will serve as the university’s 11th president. He is the former senior associate vice president for student development and enrollment services at the University of Central Florida.

The university’s Board of Governor’s named Jenkins to the position earlier this month. He will take on the new role July 1.

Jenkins is replacing outgoing president Brian Hemphill who is leaving to become president of Radford University in Virginia.

HEPC chair Bruce Barry spoke with members about incentives Wednesday.

“I do have difficulty with the incentives that are being built into the contracts and my reasoning behind that are those incentives are incumbent upon every president anyway when he takes over the administration of each institution,” Berry said.

HEPC member Drew Payne agreed.

“Your base job is to be incentivized to do your best job. I just wanted to say I’m in total agreements with your comments. It’s something we ought to look at going forward,” Payne told Berry.

In approving the appointment, the Commission granted Chancellor Paul Hill the authority to approve a final contract for Jenkins, but Berry said discussions about the contracts could continue.

“We look forward to working with Dr. Jenkins as he takes the helm at West Virginia State University during this critically important time for higher education in West Virginia — a time when it is imperative that we produce more college graduates prepared to move our state forward,” Hill said in a news release. “We also thank President Brian Hemphill for four years of visionary leadership and outstanding service to the Yellow Jacket community.”





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