(WKYT) – Gov. Andy Beshear is again criticizing the University of Kentucky over a revised retirement agreement for outgoing Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart and the appointment of a new law school dean.
Barnhart retirement deal
The revised agreement calls for Barnhart to receive more than $3 million, paid in installments. The money will not come from the university’s budget, but will instead be paid from UK President Eli Capilouto’s private fundraising, along with an additional $40,000 annual salary for Barnhart to assist with fundraising.
Beshear said the money could instead support students, faculty and research at UK.
“I don’t have anything against Mitch Barnhart, but this is a lot of money,” Beshear said. “I know there’s an argument, ‘Oh, the president’s gonna raise it, it’s not state funds.’ Well, that’s money the president isn’t raising for the University of Kentucky.”
Law school dean appointment
Beshear also reiterated his past criticisms of newly appointed UK Law School Dean Greg Van Tatenhove, saying Van Tatenhove did not fit university criteria and was the only candidate not recommended by the law school faculty.
“The university continues to say, ‘Oh, we followed the regular procedure.’ No, they didn’t,” Beshear said. “When questioned on that, the university says, ‘Oh well, in our regular process we have an exception for extraordinary circumstances.’ Well, wait a minute — if you invoke an exception for extraordinary circumstances, you’re not following a regular process. You’re saying, ‘Okay, we’re moving everything out we previously said and we’re going an entirely different direction. Don’t insult our intelligence.’”
Beshear tied the Van Tatenhove controversy to Barnhart’s new position, saying both circumstances have led him to lose confidence in UK leadership.