After leaving MSU for Clemson, Kevin Guskiewicz decides he wants to be at MSU after all
In late May, Kevin Guskiewicz rejected a $1 million a year raise to stay as Michigan State University president and said he was tired of the frustrations from the board and would take a lower-paying job – reported at $1.2 million a year – leading Clemson University in South Carolina.
That lasted little more than a month.
Guskiewicz and MSU announced on Monday in a statement that he was going to stay in Michigan after all.
It’s not clear what changed in the last six weeks or so that would have changed Guskiewicz’s mind.
MSU made significant changes to its board governance prior to Guskiewicz’s departure. It is not clear what further changes or potential changes Guskiewicz and board members have discussed since his departure.
In his statement, signed as President of Michigan State University, Guskiewicz said: “During the past several weeks, under the strong leadership of Board Chair Brianna Scott and Vice Chair Renee Knake Jefferson, we have had productive conversations about the governance challenges I previously shared. The board has demonstrated a commitment to implementing a more robust governance structure, including recent improvements to the Code of Ethics and Conduct.”
Guskiewicz has formally withdrawn his letter of resignation and Michigan State University trustees met at an “informal meeting” on Monday where Scott informed the board that Guskiewicz will remain as president. Guskiewicz then sent his letter to the university community.
Emily Gerkin Guerrant, a MSU vice president and chief communications officer, said in an email that his salary is about $1.5 million, or about $500,000 above his earlier salary and the boost goes into effect on Oct.1.
“The additional money will come from non-university funds,” she said.
The board had not yet named an interim president but had begun evaulating options and held stakeholder engagement sessions in June, Guerrant said.
Trying to keep Guskiewicz
The board has attempted to keep Guskiewicz in recent months.
In a hastily arranged weekend board meeting in May, a majority of the board offered to nearly double Guskiewicz’s salary and they required three dissenting board members to sign a conduct pledge. Less than two weeks later, Guskiewicz announced he was leaving for the Clemson job, which lasted about 40 days until he announced he would be returning to MSU.
The conduct pledges have been required.
“I recognize that some members of our community may have questions about my commitment,” Guskiewicz said in the statement. “That is understandable. Our university has experienced more than its share of change in recent years, and I regret that my decision-making over the past several weeks added to that uncertainty. For that, I am sincerely sorry.
Trust is not restored through words alone. It is earned through consistency, transparency and action. My commitment is to continue showing up every day with energy, humility and purpose — to listen carefully, engage openly and lead in a way that reflects the values of this university and the confidence you place in me.”
Clemson University said Monday that Guskiewicz had informed them his decision was of a personal nature and that university is relaunching its search for a president.
This is a developing story, refresh for the latest information
