Dive Brief:

• Three top officials at the University of Louisville were paid one-year’s worth of their salaries to take early retirements, compared to the six-month deals given to 175 other staff and administrators, so they wouldn’t disclose sensitive information.
• The three officials — two vice presidents and an assistant to the president — were all close to Louisville president James Ramsey. They were paid $252,350, $248,255, and $66,391.
• The deals had been kept secret until they were disclosed through a Kentucky Open Records Act request by The Courier-Journal newspaper.

Dive Insight:

Fair or not, the first question raised by the disclosure of these agreements is: What is the University of Louisville hiding? University practices experts and others are calling such agreements inappropriate. According to the university, the better deals were offered to the three because they had access to confidential information on personnel matters and contract and budget negotiations. Specifically, the agreements forbid the three from suing the school, joining a lawsuit by a university employee, or disparaging the school or its senior leaders. In all, 285 employees retired early through the program, saving the university $7.5 million over four years. Each faculty member also received a full year’s pay.