Former University President Jim Ryan’s employment contract with the University describes several different ways Ryan could have left his position, including resignation and termination with or without cause. The path he took was resignation — Ryan announced his resignation June 27, following pressure from the Justice Department regarding diversity, equity and inclusion and affirmative action policies at the University.
The Cavalier Daily obtained this contract through a page on Open The Books, a public spending database which submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for Ryan’s contract in 2024. This contract, originally established in 2018 when Ryan was hired, was renewed in 2022 and outlines the terms of his employment, including salary and benefits. His contract outlines the salary and benefits he is entitled to in the case of resignation.
Ryan’s term officially began Aug 1, 2018 and was set to last until July 31, 2028. After he announced his resignation, the term and contract were terminated.
The contract notes that the president serves at the pleasure of the Board and can also be terminated without cause — without a specific fireable offense — at any time with a two-thirds vote. Ryan could have received his presidential annual salary for an additional 12 months following a termination without cause and would have been entitled to certain benefits, sabbatical leave and a tenured professorship.
If Ryan was terminated with cause — because of a fireable offense, such as harassment or misconduct — a two-thirds vote of the Board would remove him from office immediately or at the date of termination, which would be determined by the Board as well. His compensation and benefits would also end at the date of his termination and he would no longer receive a tenured professorship.
The Board has not fired any past presidents with cause. When former University President Teresa Sullivan had disagreements with the Board in 2012, the rector at the time — Helen Dragas — asked her to resign and she did so, but was reinstated 16 days later due to outcry from the University community at her “forced” resignation.
Because Ryan resigned, leaving his position independent of official action by the Board of Visitors, the University’s highest governing body, his contract allows him to assume a professorship at the University. Ryan will serve as a tenured member in the School of Law and the School of Education and Human Development.
Also in accordance with this contract, Ryan’s faculty salary will be 75 percent of his presidential salary, which was $912,200 in 2024, having started at a base of $750,000 in 2018. This means that he will likely receive around $600,000 annually which will be significantly higher than what other similar academic institutions offer to professors. The University of California, Los Angeles, for example, pays $221,000 to $288,300 for senior and tenured law professors.
All increases in Ryan’s annual base salary were approved by a Board resolution and had to be based on Ryan’s performance during the previous 12 months, according to his contract. An annual performance review — not publicly available — was conducted each year of Ryan’s presidency by the rector, the highest-ranking member on the Board.
The most recent performance review was scheduled to be held during closed session at a June meeting of the full Board. However, it is unclear whether this review was completed.
Ryan also accrued a total of 14 months of paid sabbatical leave or two months of leave for every 12 months of service as president, which his contract states he may take before returning to serve as a tenured faculty member. University presidents can only take sabbatical leave after their time as president ends.
It is now the responsibility of the Board, which is entirely composed of Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s appointees, to negotiate a new employment contract and to select a new interim and permanent president for the University.
Board members that selected Ryan following a nationwide search process were appointed by either former Gov. Terry McAuliffe or former Gov. Ralph Northam, both Democrats. Those Board members unanimously approved Ryan’s employment agreement prior to him becoming president, which was unanimously extended in 2022 to last until 2028 by the Board.
In a public release, the University announced that Ryan would take a sabbatical after stepping down July 11. He will still be entitled to receive his presidential salary and benefits during his time away and will be entitled to an office, staff support and an annual budget of $50,000 for research and travel expenses during his sabbatical.
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