The chancellor of the University of Texas System insists a lack of trust and communication led him to press for the resignation of the president of the Austin flagship campus.
Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa praised President Bill Powers' record on items such as graduation rates and luring research money. But Cigarroa also told state lawmakers on Wednesday the two have had a "fractured" relationship for years and it was time to make a change.
Powers is popular with prominent alumni, donors, faculty and students but has been under fire from some members of the Board of Regents over policy issues for several years. Powers agreed last week to step down next June.
Cigarroa says he wasn't pressured by regents to ask Powers to resign.
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