The Southern University system’s Board of Supervisors has cleared Johnny G. Anderson, who recently stepped down as the panel’s chairman, of allegations that he sexually harassed female employees, The Advocate, a newspaper in Baton Rouge, La., reported this morning.

After meeting for nearly an hour in a closed emergency session on Tuesday, the board released a statement saying that an internal investigation conducted by Lester Pourciau, the university system’s human-resources director and equal-employment-opportunity coordinator, “could not substantiate the allegations of sexual harassment.” Mr. Anderson told the newspaper that he expected to resume his service as chairman.

Today, however, marks the next round in the dispute over the allegations — a hearing in federal court on a request for a temporary restraining order that would prevent Southern from “taking any action” that would affect the employment status of Ralph Slaughter, the system’s president. Mr. Slaughter, who first made public the complaints against Mr. Anderson, was placed on paid leave in May, while the internal investigation was conducted. The Advocate reports that some of the women who made allegations against Mr. Anderson have been subpoenaed to testify. —Karin Fischer