Temple University board announces intention to dismiss president

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Temple University's Board of Trustees has voted to remove President Neil Theobald.

The Board took a unanimous vote of no confidence in Theobald Tuesday with the intention to dismiss him.

In a statement released Tuesday night, Chair Patrick O'Connor said the Board did not like Theobald's handling of the removal of University Provost Hai-Lung Dai and blamed Theobald for the $22-million deficit in the school's financial aid budget.

"After providing an opportunity for President Theobald to resign his position, which he refused, the Board concluded that it is compelled to proceed with Dr. Theobald's removal as President," O'Connor said in the statement.

"The board's concern is that there was a lack of communication," said Temple spokesman Kevin Feeley told Action News on Wednesday, "about how (the aid deficit) grew and about how it was allowed to continue when in fact there were opportunities to reduce it earlier."

The board does not suspect anything "untoward" in Theobald's conduct, Feeley continued. "It just wasn't handled properly."

The Board is scheduled to formally vote on the ouster at a meeting on Thursday, July 21st.

"It is the Board's intention to formally appoint longtime Temple leader, former Acting President and current Chancellor Richard M. Englert, as Acting President at its meeting on Thursday, July 21, 2016," O'Connor said in the statement.

The Board has approved the appointment of Temple Law School Dean JoAnne A. Epps to succeed Hai-Lung Dai as Provost.