Ole Miss releases statement on rumors surrounding chancellor Jeffrey Vitter's contract
Earlier this week, reports surfaced that Ole Miss was not going to renew chancellor Jeffrey Vitter’s contract when it expires in 2020.
However, it appears that report may have been unfounded, as the Rebels released a statement defending Dr. Vitter’s current position.
If it sounded like 2018 was a bit early to make a final decision on a contract ending in 2020, it was. In an emailed statement, Ole Miss said Dr. Vitter’s contract will be considered at an appropriate time:
“There is no truth to the rumor,” the statement said. “Dr. Vitter’s first four-year contract began on January 1, 2016, which is the middle of the fiscal year. At the April IHL Board meeting, the Board approved a four-year contract beginning July 1, 2016 to align with the fiscal year. State law only allows a maximum of four-year contracts, so the contract ends June 30, 2020. A future contract will be considered at the appropriate time.”
So, the statement doesn’t say Vitter will get his contract renewed. Instead, it simply states that now final decision has been made yet.
The next couple of years will be important ones for Dr. Vitter, but for now, his status in Oxford is secure.