(WXYZ) — Michigan State University President Dr. Samuel Stanley announced his resignation in a video message on Thursday.
“I know very well from the outpouring of support from students, staff, faculty, shared governance, alumni donors … that many of you will be profoundly disappointed with this decision,” said Dr. Stanley in the video. “But I, like the Michigan State University Senate and associated students of Michigan State University, have lost confidence in the actions of the current Board of Trustees and I cannot in good conscience continue to serve this board as constituted.”
Watch his full video message below:
Sources have previously indicated to 7 Action News there has been friction between the board and Stanley dating back to COVID-19 precautions and his leadership style.
Stanley had recently been asked by the Board of Trustees to retire early. He was being pressured to retire following his execution of title nine investigations which deals with sexual assault and discrimination.
A recent decision by MSU’s provost to push out Sanjay Gupta, the dean of MSU’s Broad Business School, appears to have been the last straw for at least some board members.
Gupta, a longtime MSU business school professor, was found by MSU to have violated the school’s mandatory reporting policy which ensures that reports of sexual violence or harassment be reported up the chain of command.
MSU has been tight-lipped about the nature of the report, but has said that Gupta did not follow proper protocol.
Some on the board of trustees weren't convinced Gupta broke with policy at all, or at least did not deserve to be removed as dean, and have pushed back at the provost’s decision.
Gupta ultimately resigned, MSU says.
The Board of Trustees released the following statement after Stanley's announcement Thursday:
“The MSU Board of Trustees appreciates President Stanley’s service over the past three years. President Stanley arrived at a difficult time and provided steady leadership to guide us forward while the entire world was experiencing severe disruption and uncertainty. The Board of Trustees will work cooperatively with President Stanley during this transition and more details will be shared with the campus community as information is available.”
