The board of British Columbia's Thompson Rivers University says it has lost confidence in its president after just one year on the job and fired her.

The school announced Monday that Kathleen Scherf, who was installed as president and vice-chancellor of the Kamloops school in September 2008, had been released from her duties.

The university was vague about why exactly it was getting rid of Scherf, but the board's chair said the decision came after a routine, annual evaluation of her performance over the past three months.

"The board had lost confidence in her leadership abilities and her judgment abilities regarding the president's position," said Ron Olynyk, who didn't elaborate, citing privacy laws.

Scherf couldn't be reached for comment.

Former president Roger Barnsley was set to take over until a replacement is chosen.

Olynyk said Scherf is free to teach at the school as a professor if she wants to, and for the next 12 months will be on sabbatical, during which time she is expected to conduct research and prepare for teaching.

She will receive nine months of severance worth $168,000.

Her salary while on leave is about $95,000 a year and she has no obligation to teach or leave after the year is up.

Scherf, a former University of Calgary dean, was the school's fifth president. In announcing her appointment in June 2008, the university said her arrival marked the beginning of a "new era" in the Thompson Rivers' history.

From her introduction to faculty and staff when she thrust her fingers in the air and declared "TRU rocks," Scherf was a unique presence as the campus leader.

The theatre professor frequently had boldly coloured streaks in her hair and peppered conversation with "dude."

But Olynyk said her mannerisms were not the issue for the board.

"A number of people commented it was not her style," he said. "It was her role and substance as president."

The performance review, which is standard and also applied to previous presidents, begins with a questionnaire sent to people on campus as well as to community leaders. It is compiled by a committee of the board.

Scherf also completed a self-evaluation, listing her goals and accomplishments, and had a chance to respond to the board's final report.

Among the changes at the university since Scherf came on as president was awarding of a law school and tens of millions in infrastructure grants from Victoria and Ottawa.

She also brought in a widescale restructuring of schools that tinkered with administration but did not result in any cuts.

Before moving to Kamloops, Scherf was a dean at the University of Calgary, and had previously taught at the University of British Columbia and the University of New Brunswick.