OXFORD, Miss. — Contract negotiations between the state College Board and Dan Jones have ended with no deal to keep Jones on as Chancellor of Ole Miss.
In a written statement Thursday, Commissioner Elect of Higher Education Dr. Jim Borsig said both sides had put forth a good faith effort. “A proposal to extend the contract of Dr. Jones was discussed. Dr. Jones declined that proposal, so the Board of Trustees will move forward with the search for a new Chancellor.”
The offer would have given Jones a contract for another 21 months, and would have required he retire when it ended. “I feel strongly, as do most of my advisors, that serving two years as a lame duck would make it difficult to recruit and retain key leaders and continue our momentum in private giving,” Jones said at a press conference on the Oxford campus. “More importantly, it is clear from the Board’s position that the Board would not support my leadership during any extension.” Jones said in order for Ole Miss to thrive and succeed, the University needs a leader who has the support of IHL “which I clearly do not enjoy. For these reasons, it is in the University’s best interest for me not to accept the Boards offer.”
Jones will leave Ole Miss when his current contract ends in September.
