THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Monday, March 25, 1996                 TAG: 9603250118
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Briefs 
DATELINE: FERRUM                             LENGTH: Short :   37 lines

CONTRACT RENEWED

Ferrum College trustees have renewed school President Jerry Boone's annual contract, despite a faculty survey showing overwhelming discontent with his leadership.

The Board of Trustees' four-hour meeting Saturday was closed to the media. Ferrum spokesman Matt Conn said the trustees issued a statement saying they support Boone but respect the views of both the faculty and the administration and want both to work together.

Boone's administration has come under fire recently from faculty members who say the college has no long-term vision and its problems of dropping enrollment, budget cuts and possible layoffs are a direct result.

Some Ferrum professors have formed an unofficial association to represent their concerns. It includes about 65 of 80 faculty members.

The Faculty Development and Affairs Committee, the organization that acts as the official liaison with the administration, conducted a survey of the faculty on Thursday and Friday. The results were distributed to board members during the meeting by Sam Payne, a political science professor and chairman of the committee.

The survey asked whether Boone has articulated a plan for the college, has an understanding of faculty concerns and has a vision for Ferrum. Out of 200 total votes on the three questions, only three were cast in favor of Boone and 178 against him.

Payne said, however, he doesn't think the majority of the faculty is ready to demand a leadership change at this point. by CNB