U Of M President Kaler To Step Down Next Year
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO/AP) -- The University of Minnesota's president has announced that he will step down from the post in a year.
Eric Kaler announced Friday morning that he would step down effective July 1, 2019.
"This is an incredibly demanding job, essentially seven days a week, evenings and nights included, and as proud and confident of my contributions and ability as I am, I also know that the University will benefit from a fresh perspective. Quite simply, it is time," he wrote in a statement. "All students across our five system campuses receive our support so that they can achieve their own success, their own path to a brighter future. We are, and I am, incredibly proud of them, and of our faculty and staff who support them."
Kaler noted that his tenure at the University of Minnesota "already exceeds the national average."
Gov. Dayton issued a statement after Kaler's announcement:
"President Kaler has provided dedicated and principled leadership to the University of Minnesota. All of us owe him a debt of gratitude for his very important contributions to the betterment of our University and our State" Dayton said.
After he steps down, Kaler plans to work as president emeritus for one year to continue the momentum of the university's $4 billion Driven campaign.
Kaler says he then plans a sabbatical before assuming a faculty position in the university's Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science.
(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
