MUNCIE — Ball State University's board of trustees accepted the mysterious resignation of President Paul Ferguson during a meeting at the university's Indianapolis Center on Monday morning.
The board last week sent The Star Press a notice of the special meeting that contained nothing on the agenda, as well as a notice of an executive session immediately before the special meeting. The special meeting was open, but no one from the press or the public attended.
Myra Borshoff, an external public relations consultant, referred questions about Ferguson’s sudden and unexpected departure to Indianapolis attorney Rick Hall, chairman of the university’s trustees, who wasn’t available for comment Monday afternoon.
Today's news was sent to the media from Borshoff's company, an independent firm.
"There is something going on for his resignation to be so sudden, and the trustees ought to tell us what it is," said BSU professor Eric Kelly, a former chair of University Senate. "This is weird. I'm stunned that it's happening mid-semester. I would not have been surprised if they had announced he would be leaving effective July 1. Coming in after a strong president like Jo Ann Gora … is very tough. I kind of expected he would wind up with a two-year job for a whole bunch of reasons."Ferguson had been signed, effective Aug. 1, 2014, to a five-year contract at Ball State. He came to BSU from the presidency of the University of Maine and was Ball State’s 15th president.
Associate professor Amy Harden, current president of University Senate, told The Star Press: "I am surprised by the seemingly abrupt nature and am immensely saddened by this news. In the short time he has been at Ball State, he has had a tremendous positive impact through the various initiatives and the refreshed and refocus on Ball State as the university for entrepreneurial learning and community engagement."
Like almost everyone, she has no idea why Ferguson quit.