ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) 鈥� Mark Schlissel has been removed as president of the University of Michigan due to an alleged "inappropriate relationship with a university employee," the on its website.
The removal was effective 鈥渋mmediately,鈥� University of Michigan Board of Regents said, adding that members learned Dec. 8, 2021 about the relationship from an anonymous complaint and that an investigation revealed that 鈥渙ver the years,鈥� Schlissel used his university email account to 鈥渃ommunicate with that subordinate in a manner inconsistent with the dignity and reputation of the university.鈥�
鈥淎s you know, the Regents received an anonymous complaint regarding an alleged sexual affair between you and a subordinate,鈥� the board wrote in its letter to Schlissel informing him of his removal. 鈥淎n investigation has revealed that your interactions with the subordinate were inconsistent with promoting the dignity and reputation of the University of Michigan.鈥�
The letter from the board dated Saturday included excerpts of emails exchanged between Schlissel and the employee.
The employee wrote in a July 1, 2021, exchange that her 鈥渉eart hurts,鈥� according to the board which said Schlissel responded: 鈥淚 know. mine too.鈥� He continued: 鈥漈his is my fault鈥� and that he was 鈥渋n pain too.鈥�
The board also wrote that on Jan. 9, 2021, the subordinate employee said, 鈥淥h yes!鈥� in an email to Schlissel. His response was 鈥渓ove it when you say that.鈥�
Copies of emails with the name of the recipient鈥檚 name redacted were included in Saturday鈥檚 announcement on the school's website. One dated Jan. 12 was about an August 2019 article from The New Yorker titled 鈥淪exual Fantasies of Everyday New Yorkers.鈥�
Schlissel had a base salary of $927,000 a year. in June 2023, a year before his contract was to expire.
Former University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman has been appointed interim president. Schlissel's removal and Coleman's appointment will be affirmed during the board's Feb. 17 formal session.
Schlissel in January 2014. He had been provost at Brown University.
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Williams reported from West Bloomfield, Michigan.
Corey Williams, The Associated Press
