Kaleb Poor
Staff Writer
The Trustees of the University of Wyoming have decided not to appeal the court-ordered release of records related to the dismissal of then-president Laurie Nichols, according to a press release issued today.
The announcement effectively brings an end to the lawsuit filed against UW by a coalition of Wyoming news organizations. It also heralds a possible resolution to the long-running mystery surrounding the infamous Nichols decision last year.
The release confirms earlier reporting that the Trustees ordered an investigation of Nichols. It also confirms the investigation was prompted by two reports made about Nichols to UW Human Resources.
“In early 2019, the Board of Trustees was made aware of two instances when reports were made to human resources by university staff members regarding President Nichols. We retained an employment matters firm to do preliminary interviews and inquiry,” the statement read.
That firm – Employment Matters, LLC – was hired in Feb. 2019, according to invoices. They were paid a total of $8,550 for their work investigating the Nichols, which concluded March 13. Two days later, members of the Board of Trustees flew to Arizona to inform her that her contract as UW’s president would not be renewed.
“The firm reported that the resulting inquiry identified multiple individual accounts or perspectives of a similar and consistent nature. Members of the university community who came forward were promised that UW would attempt to maintain confidentiality if at all possible — another factor in our choice not to elaborate on the circumstances of the conclusion of Nichols’ presidency, and to keep the relevant documentation private.”
Following the Jan. 3 decision by Albany Co. District Court Judge Tori Kricken, in which UW was given 30 days to appeal, the Trustees have been tight-lipped about their intent. That deadline would have arrived this coming Mon.
While a resolution to the Nichols matter may now be forthcoming, the Trustees ended their statement with a declaration of intent to continue their secretive hiring practices.
“While the board continues to believe a policy of confidentiality in personnel matters is most respectful to university employees, both current and former, we are confident the material shows our decision not to renew President Nichols’ contract reflected prudent judgment and was in the best interest of the University of Wyoming and its people.”
With the upcoming release of the Nichols records, the time for public review of that judgement approaches.
