Overview
- Multiple outlets reported over the weekend that the University of Michigan will discuss the Jenner & Block probe and Warde Manuel’s job at the Board of Regents meeting scheduled for Thursday, July 16.
- Manuel has publicly denied being fired and told reporters he has held recent talks with President Domenico Grasso and expects to remain in the role in the near term.
- The independent Jenner & Block review, reported to have cost roughly $11–12 million, expanded from the Sherrone Moore case to examine department culture and whether officials knew about Moore’s relationship with staffer Paige Shiver and when they learned of it.
- Manuel’s five‑year extension signed in December 2024 runs through June 2030 and includes a clause that would require roughly 36 months of severance pay if he is terminated without cause, making any separation costly unless a negotiated buyout is reached.
- Manuel’s decade at Michigan has combined national championships with recurring scandals, and the probe plus a public‑records lawsuit and withheld investigative materials could prompt leadership change, affect staff and donor confidence, and shape how the university releases or protects report documents.