USF fires Lewis

University officials ended Scott Lewis’ employment this week after the USF administrator was arrested and charged last month with misdemeanor voyeurism.

“We are ending his contract with the university,” said Michael Reich, director of media relations.

Lewis, who was the associate vice president of administrative services, was placed on paid leave immediately following the arrest. On May 1, Reich said Lewis stopped receiving pay as officials tried to decide ether he would return to his position.

Lewis was a USF employee for two months with a $145,000 annual salary.

Reich said because Lewis was classified as an administrative and professional employee, the university didn’t need a reason to end his contract.

“Each of our A&P employees have a year-to-year contract,” Reich said. “We don’t have to have a reason to end a contract. But this was clearly done in light of the (arrest).”

According to a Tampa Police report filed in April, Lewis was intoxicated when he climbed on top of an air conditioning unit to look into his neighbor’s bathroom window. Lewis, 48, allegedly watched as his 42- year-old neighbor dressed from the window, which is 8 feet above the ground.

Lewis was responsible for handling the physical plant, auxiliary services, budget analysis and facilities planning.

Reich said Trudie Frecker, associate vice president of human resources, will take over Lewis’ duties while USF searches for a permanent replacement. Reich added that finding a permanent replacement would be the responsibility of Carl Carlucci, chief financial officer and executive vice president of USF.

Frecker did not return repeated phone messages.

Before coming to USF, Lewis was the associate vice chancellor of business and finance at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He was also responsible for filing reports to the Board of Regents in Nebraska

Lewis’ wife, who is a project coordinator at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Barkley Memorial Center, was scheduled to move to Tampa sometime this year.