News services informed the public at 8:08 p.m. of an emergency Board of Trustees conference call at 8:30 p.m. in the chancellor’s conference room in Holladay Hall. In the closed meeting the Board approved the release of personal documents in relation to the hiring and resignation of former provost Larry Nielsen, according to Keith Nichols, director of news and communication.

The documents released to the media following the meeting were a collection of letters and memos concerning Nielsen’s compensation. Among the documents released were a letter from Chancellor James Oblinger to Nielsen dated May 13, 2009 outlining “the transition of your salary in accordance with the terms of your initial appointment as provost” and a letter from Oblinger to Nielsen dated June 22, 2005 informing Nielsen he had been selected as permanent provost.

The 2005 letter notifying Nielsen of his selection states his salary is $298,700 and outlines the procedure for if he were to step down from his position.

The May 13 letter sets a timetable for Nielsen’s compensation changes until January of 2010.

A News & Observer article Sunday reported Nichols and Oblinger reported different numbers in earlier interviews, but said Nielsen’s package would be larger and longer than indicated earlier.