Board Moves Ahead with National Chancellor Search

The Colorado State University System Board of Governors has established a search committee to conduct a national search for a new Chancellor of the three-campus Colorado State University System. In November 2008, Larry Penley resigned from the conjoined position of the president of the Fort Collins campus and chancellor of the CSU System.  The Board appointed Dr. Tony Frank to serve as interim president of the CSU Fort Collins campus. The chancellor role was left vacant until the Board determined if it was in the best interest of the campuses and the system to separate the two roles.

Historically, the president of CSU Fort Collins has also acted as chancellor of the CSU System, representing all campuses with the legislature, the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, donors, and private and public sectors. Both jobs have grown exponentially in their roles and responsibilities, especially with the dramatic growth of CSU-Pueblo. The Board was aware of the increasing challenges and demands the Fort Collins campus president had to manage, while also holding the dual title of chancellor and handling the needs of the system.

After analyzing several national university system models, the Board reached a unanimous consensus December 2008 to move forward with separating the position of the CSU System Chancellor from the President of the Fort Collins campus.

Since then, the Board received input from many stakeholders about desired attributes of a new Chancellor. The Board appreciates everyone’s input who attended the forums in Pueblo, Sterling, Denver, and Fort Collins and the efforts to solicit comments in Alamosa, Durango and Grand Junction via video conferencing. The Board has taken the comments into consideration in developing the chancellor position description.

CSU is an outstanding university system serving the state in economic development with our renewable and clean energy technologies, in water and forest conservation, in educating a growing Hispanic population, in providing entertainment through arts and humanities and in addressing health care needs.

We have a great opportunity at this juncture to reshape leadership that is aligned with the caliber of the CSU System. The Board of Governors knows the importance and impact a strong leader can have in directing a premier academic and research university system.

We are committed to a search that will result in a proven leader who will embrace the incredible future of this outstanding university system and work diligently to promote CSU’s widespread contributions to the state of Colorado and the world.

As the search process moves forward, please visit the Web site www.csusystem.edu to keep apprised of the search committee’s progress.

Sincerely,

Douglas L. Jones, Chair
Colorado State University System Board of Governors