UT Austin President Powers asked to resign or be fired

University of Texas at Austin President Bill Powers was given an ultimatum Friday: quit or be fired, a source with knowledge of the situation said. (AP File Photo/Austin American-Statesman, Ricardo Brazziell) University of Texas at Austin President Bill Powers was given an ultimatum Friday: quit or be fired, a source with knowledge of the situation said. (AP File Photo/Austin American-Statesman, Ricardo Brazziell) Photo: Ricardo Brazziell, Associated Press Photo: Ricardo Brazziell, Associated Press Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close UT Austin President Powers asked to resign or be fired 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

University of Texas at Austin President Bill Powers was given an ultimatum Friday: quit or be fired, a source with knowledge of the situation said.

UT System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa asked Powers to resign before the regents meet again July 10, or be fired at the meeting, the source said. Powers told Cigarroa he will not resign, at least not under the terms that the chancellor laid out Friday. Powers told Cigarroa he would be open to discussing a timeline for his exit, the source said.

Powers has developed a tense relationship with the system chancellor and regents in recent months. The ultimatum comes as the university plans to undertake an official investigation into possible legislative influence over campus admissions. Allegations of undue influence, including the admission of family and friends of legislators otherwise not qualified, were heavily publicized by UT System Regent Wallace Hall. A House committee is drafting articles of impeachment for Hall based on his massive records requests and alleged bullying of university officials in his quest to unveil wrongdoing at the flagship.

The regents meet Thursday. The agenda for the meeting has not yet been posted.