UCF president in line to get $600,000 to leave

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - The former president of the University of Central Florida is in line to get $600,000 as part of his departure settlement.

Documents released on Tuesday show the UCF Board of Trustees will consider the payout during a meeting Thursday. The recommended action on the agenda is to approve the payout using non-state funds.

The board accepted Whittaker’s resignation last week after he offered to step down to appease state lawmakers and education officials upset about the school using operating funds to pay for construction.

The university had come under heavy criticism from lawmakers and state education officials in recent months after the disclosure that it had spent tens of millions of dollars meant for operating expenses on construction, a violation of state rules.

Under the terms of the proposed settlement, Whittaker will be paid a lump sum of $435,000 and 20 weeks of severance payment at his tenured faculty salary, equal to $165,000.

UCF’s interim chief financial officer also resigned just days after Whittaker made his offer.

Kathy Mitchell informed school officials by email on Monday, saying she was originally told the interim role would be three to four months. After six months in the role, Mitchell wrote “there is no realistic end in sight.”

Mitchell wrote that the school would be better served if a more “permanent” interim CFO is hired until a new president is chosen.