KALAMAZOO, MI -- About 200 people packed a Western Michigan University Board of Trustees meeting Thursday in a show of support for a well-liked dean whose contract was not renewed.

Alex Enyedi and his supporters say they are upset that WMU Provost Timothy Greene decided not to renew Enyedi's contract, which expires June 30, as dean of the university's College of Arts and Science.

People packed the WMU Board of Trustees meeting Thursday in the Bernhard Center, holding signs that read "Alex Enyedi is CAS" and "I stand with Alex." The standing-room-only crowd spilled out into the hallway, prompting officials to move the meeting to a bigger room. Enyedi received a standing ovation from his supporters when he entered.

Thomas Kostrzewa, president of the Professional Instructors Organization, the part-time faculty union at WMU, was one of a handful of speakers who addressed the board in support of Enyedi.

"He is loved by our faculty, and for the life of me ... I cannot understand, nor can my membership understand why we would want to get rid of one of the best and brightest people from our experience.

"From our point of view, this makes no sense whatsoever."

Cheryl Roland, WMU spokeswoman, said university administration does not discuss individual personnel issues.

"We do appoint deans for five-year periods, and that arrangement allows either side, at the end of the term, to make a decision about whether the relationship should continue," Roland said.

Enyedi, appointed dean in 2010, said he had requested salary adjustments for female office coordinators and associates, but the request was denied by university administration. The administration offered instead that Enyedi submit staff excellence awards, which include a cash bonus. Enyedi applied for awards for 45 female employees, and the awards were approved by administration. Each award came with a $4,000 cash gift.

"We do these all the time, but we don't do 45 at once," Enyedi said.

Other colleges attempted also to issue the awards, but were denied, according to Enyedi.

"That has caused a lot of concern across campus in respect to other employee groups wondering why one college was able to do this versus other colleges," he said.

Enyedi said he believes he took a stand to provide a fair wage for female employees, which turned out to be at odds with the institution.

"From my perspective, I'm deeply disappointed by the institution's desire to do this, but most importantly I have great concerns how this will impact the College of Arts and Sciences," Enyedi said.

Enyedi remains a tenured faculty member at WMU.

Roland said Greene would meet with College of Arts and Sciences leadership next week to discuss the transition to the college's next dean.