PITTSBURGH Education board ousts Slippery Rock U. chief

They removed him now because he was trying to get the board to reverse its decision not to renew his contract.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education voted Monday to immediately remove Slippery Rock University President G. Warren Smith from duty, saying his performance was "unsatisfactory."
The ouster by 10-4 vote comes two months after the board voted not to extend Smith's contract one year beyond its June 30, 2004 expiration.
Since that decision, 88 percent of the university's 253 faculty members voted to express public confidence in Smith, and other university officials praised him for increasing fund-raising, enrollment and the quality of incoming students since he arrived at the 7,500-student university in 1997.
Board's reasons
In a statement, Charles Gomulka, chairman of the Board of Governors, said Smith was ousted immediately because he didn't "focus his efforts on assuring a smooth leadership transition" after his contract wasn't renewed.
"Instead, he has done precisely the opposite ... and participated in a divisive campaign to try to reverse the board's decision instead of focusing on addressing the performance concerns of the board," Gomulka said.
University Provost Robert M. Smith will serve as acting president until a successor is hired. Under G. Warren Smith's contract, he will be paid for 60 days before his termination is final, said Dr. Edward Nolan, vice chancellor for systems relations and advancement for the state system. Smith makes about $120,000 a year, university officials said.
Smith's reaction
Smith doesn't have a telephone number publicly listed in his name, and could not immediately be reached for comment through university channels. However, Smith addressed his dismissal in an e-mail sent to colleagues on Monday that was forwarded to The Associated Press.