MSU board votes unanimously to keep president on board

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The Missouri State University Board of Governors on Friday voted to keep President Richard "Biff" Williams in his position after four closed meetings were held over the two-week period since a lawsuit was filed in Utah against the administrator.

A statement issued this afternoon by the MSU board indicates the body voted unanimously today to retain Williams as president.

“This decision was made after thoughtful consideration of the viewpoints heard from all constituencies,” the statement reads. “Missouri State University has very high expectations for our leaders personally and professionally, and President Williams is working with the board on actions that he will take as part of his commitment to strengthening relationships across our campus community.”

The announcement came a day after the MSU Faculty Senate approved a no-confidence motion against Williams.

Williams is accused in a Nov. 7 lawsuit with other defendants of creating a hostile work environment and violating Title IX protections at Utah Tech University, for which he served as president before coming to MSU. The complaint describes Williams arranging vegetables in the shape of male genitalia on the porch of a colleague and falsely attributing the display to three campus administrators. Those three are the plaintiffs in the suit, which alleges Williams and other top leaders at Utah Tech established a “poisoned well" with alleged discrimination and retaliation against the plaintiffs surrounding Title IX protections.

Williams became MSU's president on July 1, after the retirement of former President Clif Smart.

Following the filing of the suit, Williams sent an email to the MSU community that said, in part, “While I was there, I initiated what I intended to be a humorous gesture toward a member of our staff. I have since come to realize that the prank was not appropriate. This was a mistake. I regret my lapse in judgment, and I accept this as a learning moment.”

At MSU, Williams’ annual base salary is $475,000, plus an annual housing allowance of $50,000 and up to $50,000 in annual incentive payments based upon the achievement of specified metrics, according to past SBJ reporting. Smart retired at a base salary of $427,409.