A former president of Alabama A&M University is earning a substantial sum and has the use of the president’s mansion after being hired as a consultant by the university’s interim president, The Huntsville Times reported.

Carl Marbury, who had resigned under pressure after serving as the institution’s president from 1989 to 1991, was being considered for the position of interim president last spring. At a meeting of the Board of Trustees in April, however, he withdrew his candidacy and endorsed the provost, Beverly Edmond, the paper reported. The board chose Ms. Edmond for the position at the same meeting, and weeks later Ms. Edmond hired Mr. Marbury as a “special assistant to the president,” giving him an office and a secretary, and paying him $12,500 a month. She told the newspaper his duties included exploring international partnerships for the university.

Although the president pro tempore of the Board of Trustees told the Times that he had no problem with the arrangement, other board members have been vocal in their opposition, questioning what exactly Mr. Marbury is being paid to do.

Ms. Edmond hired Mr. Marbury without seeking board approval — a sticking point for some trustees. She told the newspaper such approval was not necessary when hiring consultants.

Ms. Edmond was named to the interim position after the board fired A&M’s last president, Robert R. Jennings, in March after investigating perks received by his former executive assistant. Mr. Jennings has sued the board, saying it conspired against him. —David Shieh