Former college president to get paid $144K to resign.

Kenneth Urban

Former college president to get paid $144K to resign.

#WestShoreCommunityCollege.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

VICTORY TOWNSHIP (Mason County) – Dr. Kenneth Urban, now the former president of West Shore Community College will get paid $12,000 a month for the next year as part of his separation agreement with the college’s Board of Trustees. Urban resigned effective Monday from his position. From July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018, he will get paid his regular salary of $142,000 and vacation pay of $2,000. The payments will not be subject to tax and Social Security withholdings, but instead Urban will receive an IRS Form 1099, meaning he is responsible to withhold his own tax obligations. 

WSCC Board of Trustees Chairman Bruce Smith described the resignation as a mutual decision and an amicable parting.

“We came to the decision mutually. It was about having a good fit for our college and we believe this is best for our students and community,” Smith said.

Urban was appointed president of the college in July 2015, replacing Charles Dillon, who had retired following his arrest and conviction for drunk driving. Urban came to WSCC from Nicolet College in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, where he served, for one year, as the interim president.

Scott Ward, vice president of administrative services, has again been appointed as the interim president by the board. The board has not developed plans to begin a presidential search, Smith said.

Urban, who is paid an annual salary of $142,000, had received mixed-reviews from the board during its 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 annual evaluations of his performance.

“The consensus of the Board is that Dr. Urban has met expectations in some of the areas evaluated by the board, but the Board continues to note areas where it feels that Dr. Urban can make progress including some elements of leadership, decision-making/problem-solving and building the campus community,” Smith said following the recent evaluation in May. During its 2016 review the board noted that Urban could continue to make progress on leadership and building the campus community.

During a special meeting of the board on June 1 (to set the annual millage rate), professor Matt Sanderson, who said he was speaking on behalf of the college employees, encouraged the board to fire Urban. See related article here.

WSCC has only had four presidents since it was founded in 1967.

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