Even though his contract says otherwise, Chicago State University President Wayne Watson did not start work on Aug. 1.

The former City Colleges of Chicago chancellor was to make the switch one day after leaving the City Colleges.

Felicia Horton, a spokeswoman at CSU, could not immediately explain what the holdup is, and Watson hasn’t called us back yet.

“Dr. Westbrooks is the senior administrator acting for the Board of Trustees until Dr. Wayne Watson assumes authority of the presidency on Oct. 1, 2009,” Horton said, reading from a written statement.

Sandra Westbrooks is CSU’s provost. She was also one of the signatories when 13 members of the school’s presidential search advisory committee resigned en masse in April.

In an e-mail to the faculty senate last week, Yan Searcy, the senate president, wrote that “(Watson) indicated that he would serving as a 'consultant' to Dr. Westbrooks until he officially begins as president.”

It is unclear if Watson is currently collecting his $250,000 yearly salary, or if he's moved into the university's presidential mansion.

Know anything about Watson's whereabouts? Drop us a line.