Ousted EMU Administrators to Get Nearly $550,000 in Severance Pay

Three former Eastern Michigan University administrators who were ousted for covering up the rape and murder of a student last December will get combined severance packages totalling at least $542,000, according to The Ann Arbor News:

Severance agreements obtained by The News under the Freedom of Information Act indicate that Jim Vick, vice president for student affairs, and Cindy Hall, public safety director, will be allowed to retire and collect pension and benefits. They also will receive a year’s salary under the agreements, totaling $245,253 for the two administrators.

The EMU Board of Regents had previously said university President John Fallon, who was fired Sunday, will collect a year’s pay of $225,000, which is spelled out in his contract.

The scandal could end up costing the university well over $1 million after it pays the bills for an independent investigation conducted by a private law firm and for the fines expected to be levied for violating federal law.

Fallon’s firing and the separation agreements for Vick and Hall were announced Monday by the Board of Regents in response to reports detailing how EMU mishandled information in the wake of the death of student Laura Dickinson, who was raped and murdered in her dorm room.

The reports faulted EMU for violations of the national Clery Act – a campus crime reporting law – for failing to inform the public of the slaying and instead issuing a misleading statement that foul play was not suspected.