By Associated Press
Montevallo, AL – The University of Montevallo's vice president for academic affairs will head the liberal arts college while its board of trustees mediates a dispute with the current president.
The board says Terry Roberson will serve as acting president for the fall semester and Philip Williams will take a sabbatical. Williams and the board are at odds over whether he was exceeding his authority by making policy decisions without board deliberation or consulting the trustees.
The flap nearly cost him his job, but pleas from students, faculty and alumni persuaded the board to mediate the dispute. He and the board will begin working with a mediator after the board's next meeting, scheduled for Nov. 6.