Interim President Richard Hanson admits to encouraging VP of Finance to resign

Adams says Hanson asked him to resign in a meeting last Thursday citing a 2.5 million dollar shortfall discovered in December and controversy over the old main project which is one of 5 NDSU projects being audited this spring.

Adams says Hanson blamed him for the problems, but he says he refuses to accept that blame, because NDSU started the year with a balanced budget, and he says he warned the University of financial issues with the president's home construction, but was intimidated by former President Joe Chapman to move forward.

Hanson admits he encouraged Adams to resign, including offering 4 months of pay and benefits, but he says he does not blame him individually for poor financial oversight.

“He has to think about employability and moving on. The smaller the splash the better I would think, but that's his call. I was trying to help.”

Adams says he started looking for other jobs in higher education in December. Which is when former president Chapman resigned. Adams says he is still a loyal Joe Chapman fan, and did not intend on bashing him in his resignation letter.

Richard Hanson's name is still on the list of NDSU presidential candidates, after it was cut in half. One other local name is still on the list, D.C. Coston, the V-P of Agriculture and University Extension and professor of plant science.

The search committee narrowed the pool from 24 to 12. A few more are expected to apply in the coming week. The committee will check the remaining candidate’s references and decide March 24th who will come for interview in April. A final candidate will be selected at the end of May and start the job in August.

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