Only days after telling UTM administrators that media “distractions” would not interfere with the University moving forward, John Shumaker has resigned his position of UT President, effective immediately.

Governor Phil Bredesen addressed reporters this morning in a news conference, where he read a prepared media statement.

“The past several weeks have been very difficult for The University of Tennessee family. UT is a wonderful university with many opportunities and it pained me as governor to watch this happening,” Bredesen said.

While the resignation is effective immediately, the Governor said that he will recommend that Shumaker be paid his salary and deferred compensation through the end of this year, but will be asked to vacate his office today and his home within 60 days.

UTM Chancellor Nick Dunagan echoed Bredesen’s feeling that it has been a difficult month for the entire UT family.

“Today’s announcement provides us an opportunity to move ahead with the important work of the University. What we do as a university is more important than who is president, chancellor, or any other position,” Dunagan said.

In his resignation letter, Shumaker said that "I believe that this step is in the best interest of the University. I simply cannot permit our students, faculty, staff, alumni and trustees to be distracted from their important work by letting the controversies of the past several weeks continue.”

“I have enjoyed my association with the University and with you. I wish the University of Tennessee the very best for the future.”

Shumaker’s contract was to keep him on the job until 2008, with an annual salary of $365,000 annually, along with incentives, a personal vehicle, a home, and many other benefits. His total compensation package for this year would have likely totaled over $730,000.

Shumaker is the second UT President to resign in recent years. Wade Gilley left UT in 2001 after news of a romantic relationship with an administrator became public. He also served less than two years on the job.

Emerson “Ely” Fly served as interim President during a nationwide search for a replacement. Fly now heads the UT Foundation, which has been called into question in recent months surrounding land deals, including the purchase of Martin Place.

Even the search process used to hire Shumaker has come under fire, with claims from Shumaker’s ex-wife testifying in her divorce case that it was “rigged” to give Shumaker an advantage over another candidate.

State Senator Roy Herron said today that “the last two presidents at the University of Tennessee have done wrong by the university and by all of Tennessee's citizens.”

“The next President should be, and I believe will be, a person of unquestioned integrity. I personally hope it will be someone of deep faith who can draw on that faith to keep themselves headed in the right direction and to get UT back on the right course,” Herron said.

Gov. Bredesen said that the Board of Trustees will meet on Wednesday, August 21 to select an interim President, as well as outline the timeline and process for selecting a permanent replacement.