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A day after a historic election swept through the country, more news hit Colorado State University. The university’s president, Larry Penley, announced his resignation after serving for about five years.
The buzz soon spread throughout Fort Collins and around the state about the reasons for Penley’s sudden departure. There has been much speculation but little specifics given on the record.
In his letter of resignation, which was submitted to Board of Directors chairman Douglas Jones, Penley wrote, “I believe my leadership has contributed to significant progress for Colorado State University, but I want to be free to pursue other leadership positions in higher education. This resignation will allow me the flexibility to do so.”
Penley’s resignation from his $389,000-a-year-job as president and chancellor of CSU will be effective Nov. 30. He could not be reached for comment and officials said Penley is using vacation time. Tony Frank, senior executive vice president and provost, has been appointed as interim president.
“The welfare of CSU’s academics and research is and always has been my No. 1 priority,” Frank said in a written statement. “As interim, I’ll look forward to working closely with faculty, students, and staff as well as alumni, donors and supporters of CSU in an open and transparent manner.”
Penley’s resignation came as a surprise to some and less of a surprise to others.
Richard Eykholt, CSU’s Faculty Council, said he first heard about the resignation on Wednesday. He said it is not atypical for a president to serve between three to five years.
“I think he did a good job of carrying the university through tough budget times in the first few years, before Referendum C was passed,” Eykholt said. Referendum C was a voter-approved measure that allows state government, as it relates to various entities including higher eduction, to be exempt through 2010 from spending limits set by the TABOR Amendment.
“I think he did a good job building us back to where we were,” Eykholt said.
Jones said the resignation was not the result of any significant disagreement with the board of governors. However, some staff members have criticized some of Penley’s decisions and actions in recent years.
“There haven’t been concerns officially coming from the council, but some faculty members are raising concerns about the direction of the university and how revenue is generated,” he said. “There have been some informal discussions.”
With limited funding from the state, Penley pushed to increase funding through other revenue streams such as donations and research funding.
Eykholt said Penley also tried to make the university more visible by moving research to the marketplace quicker.
“Those initiatives require funding,” Eykholt said. “Some people rightfully question if those are good choices. It’s a gamble. ... Personally, I think it was worth taking the gamble to increase other sources of revenue, but it is too early to tell.”
John Straayer, a CSU political science professor, has been one to outwardly question CSU’s direction. Straayer is in his 42nd year at CSU. His concern was that new resources were funding administrative growth more than academic growth and instruction.
“I think there is some sense out there among a number of folks that the Board of Governors had some concerns with the operation of the university,” he said.
Straayer said he has seen a lot of presidents, vice presidents and deans come and go.
“We function best when they don’t try to veer in a radical and different direction, but rather keep the ship moving in a steady way,” he said. “Smoothness and continuity serves the university well.”
Al Yates, former CSU president, said he preferred not to discuss what has been happening at university, but he did have some insight as to what it’s like to wear the shoes of a president of a university.
“The job of president of a major research university is one of the most difficult and most complex that exists,” Yates said. “You have such a diverse set of constituents that you have to address. ... It’s a big job and a big responsibility and I wish anyone well who is willing to take on such as task. And I also wish Penley well.”
Yates served as president for 13 years, but said he has not been involved with the university for the last five years. Still, CSU will always have a place in his heart.
“I do have a strong affection for CSU and the faculty and students,” he said. “I wish them well in this time of transition. ... I think CSU is an extraordinarily fine university and has made many strides over the last decade. My belief is it will continue to be regarded as a premier institution in the country.”
On Thursday afternoon, Gov. Bill Ritter, a 1978 graduation of CSU, weighed in on Penley’s resignation with this written statement:
“On behalf of the people of Colorado, I thank Larry Penley for his five years of service to the Colorado State University system. CSU has become an important part of building Colorado’s New Energy Economy, including the creation of a new Clean Energy Supercluster and the new School of Global Environmental Sustainability.
“I look forward to working closely with the next CSU president and the Board of Governors as we tackle the economic, job, education and other challenges facing Colorado.”
The buzz soon spread throughout Fort Collins and around the state about the reasons for Penley’s sudden departure. There has been much speculation but little specifics given on the record.
In his letter of resignation, which was submitted to Board of Directors chairman Douglas Jones, Penley wrote, “I believe my leadership has contributed to significant progress for Colorado State University, but I want to be free to pursue other leadership positions in higher education. This resignation will allow me the flexibility to do so.”
Penley’s resignation from his $389,000-a-year-job as president and chancellor of CSU will be effective Nov. 30. He could not be reached for comment and officials said Penley is using vacation time. Tony Frank, senior executive vice president and provost, has been appointed as interim president.
“The welfare of CSU’s academics and research is and always has been my No. 1 priority,” Frank said in a written statement. “As interim, I’ll look forward to working closely with faculty, students, and staff as well as alumni, donors and supporters of CSU in an open and transparent manner.”
Penley’s resignation came as a surprise to some and less of a surprise to others.
Richard Eykholt, CSU’s Faculty Council, said he first heard about the resignation on Wednesday. He said it is not atypical for a president to serve between three to five years.
“I think he did a good job of carrying the university through tough budget times in the first few years, before Referendum C was passed,” Eykholt said. Referendum C was a voter-approved measure that allows state government, as it relates to various entities including higher eduction, to be exempt through 2010 from spending limits set by the TABOR Amendment.
“I think he did a good job building us back to where we were,” Eykholt said.
Jones said the resignation was not the result of any significant disagreement with the board of governors. However, some staff members have criticized some of Penley’s decisions and actions in recent years.
“There haven’t been concerns officially coming from the council, but some faculty members are raising concerns about the direction of the university and how revenue is generated,” he said. “There have been some informal discussions.”
With limited funding from the state, Penley pushed to increase funding through other revenue streams such as donations and research funding.
Eykholt said Penley also tried to make the university more visible by moving research to the marketplace quicker.
“Those initiatives require funding,” Eykholt said. “Some people rightfully question if those are good choices. It’s a gamble. ... Personally, I think it was worth taking the gamble to increase other sources of revenue, but it is too early to tell.”
John Straayer, a CSU political science professor, has been one to outwardly question CSU’s direction. Straayer is in his 42nd year at CSU. His concern was that new resources were funding administrative growth more than academic growth and instruction.
“I think there is some sense out there among a number of folks that the Board of Governors had some concerns with the operation of the university,” he said.
Straayer said he has seen a lot of presidents, vice presidents and deans come and go.
“We function best when they don’t try to veer in a radical and different direction, but rather keep the ship moving in a steady way,” he said. “Smoothness and continuity serves the university well.”
Al Yates, former CSU president, said he preferred not to discuss what has been happening at university, but he did have some insight as to what it’s like to wear the shoes of a president of a university.
“The job of president of a major research university is one of the most difficult and most complex that exists,” Yates said. “You have such a diverse set of constituents that you have to address. ... It’s a big job and a big responsibility and I wish anyone well who is willing to take on such as task. And I also wish Penley well.”
Yates served as president for 13 years, but said he has not been involved with the university for the last five years. Still, CSU will always have a place in his heart.
“I do have a strong affection for CSU and the faculty and students,” he said. “I wish them well in this time of transition. ... I think CSU is an extraordinarily fine university and has made many strides over the last decade. My belief is it will continue to be regarded as a premier institution in the country.”
On Thursday afternoon, Gov. Bill Ritter, a 1978 graduation of CSU, weighed in on Penley’s resignation with this written statement:
“On behalf of the people of Colorado, I thank Larry Penley for his five years of service to the Colorado State University system. CSU has become an important part of building Colorado’s New Energy Economy, including the creation of a new Clean Energy Supercluster and the new School of Global Environmental Sustainability.
“I look forward to working closely with the next CSU president and the Board of Governors as we tackle the economic, job, education and other challenges facing Colorado.”
