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Penley resigning as CSU's president

Move to pursue other challenges surprises many

By John C. Ensslin, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 5, 2008 at 5:37 p.m.

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Larry Penley

Larry Penley

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Colorado State University President Larry Penley surprised many Fort Collins leaders Wednesday when he announced plans to resign to pursue other higher-education leadership posts after more than five years at the helm of the CSU system.

In a letter to Douglas Jones, chairman of the CSU Board of Governors, Penley indicated that he would step down from his $389,000-a-year-job as president and chancellor effective Nov. 30.

"I believe my leadership has contributed to significant progress for Colorado State University, but I want to pursue other leadership positions in higher education. This resignation will allow me the flexibility to do so," Penley wrote.

He could not be reached for comment.

Penley, 59, had a contract that ran through 2010. As part of his resignation, the board agreed to pay him one year's salary of $389,000 after he is gone, CSU spokeswoman Michele McKinney said.

Penley became the 13th CSU president in August 2003. He had previously served as a professor of management and dean of the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.

Jones said he was surprised at Penley's decision but then added "not so surprised," given that the average tenure of university presidents is about three to five years.

He praised the leadership that Penley provided at CSU in the areas of biomedical sciences, infectious diseases research and environmental sustainability solutions.

"He brought a greater focus on the university and its research capabilities," Jones said.

Penley's resignation was not the result of any significant disagreement with the board of governors, Jones said.

"We've certainly had very healthy discussions and debates and set very high standards for all of our people. . . . But he's always done what we've needed him to do," Jones said. "We've had a pretty good relationship."

Jones said CSU provost and Senior Vice President Tony Frank will serve as interim president while a national search is conducted to find the next president.

Funding a factor?

News of Penley's resignation surprised some state legislators from Fort Collins.

"We'll I guess I'm stunned pretty much," said Rep. Randy Fischer. "I believe he was doing some good things for CSU and leading the university in a good direction."

Sen. Bob Bacon, whose district includes the campus, wondered if Penley's decision was influenced by the funding limitations on higher education in Colorado.

"There may be other states that are more higher-education friendly that would be more enticing for somebody like Larry Penley," Bacon said.

Bacon said he had heard some complaints about the administration recently from faculty members, but said he felt the complaints were more about funding problems than Penley.

Not everyone was surprised at Penley's decision.

John Straayer, a CSU political science professor for the last 42 years, has been an outspoken critic of Penley.

"I'm not surprised because I think there's been some discomfort with the direction of the university." Straayer, however, said he wishes Penley "all the best as he pursues other leadership challenges."

In September, Straayer wrote a column for the student newspaper, the Rocky Mountain Collegian, in which he satirically suggested a State of the University speech that Penley might give.

In the mock speech, Straayer had Penley explain how he:

* Hired a significant number of new administrators.

* Increased spending on athletics.

* Spent $12 million to compete with existing online schools like the University of Phoenix.

* Increased spending on lobbyists.

* Put "an expensive public relations effort in turbo-mode."

* "Spent instructional funds to scout for private research money."

* "Raised tuition and some fees by more than triple the rate of inflation."

Mixed evaluation

The CSU faculty council, however, issued a statement thanking Penley for his service.

"CSU has made significant progress under his direction and he leaves the university in a strong academic position," the statement read.

Penley's decision miffed the student government president.

"I'm a little upset," said Taylor Smoot, president of the Associated Students of Colorado State University. "I don't think that CSU is a stepping stone for a president to get another job. I think it's a world-class institution. I kind of feel it's a slap in the face."

Smoot gave Penley's tenure a mixed evaluation. He credited Penley for recent initiatives to make CSU a "green" university, but said many students are concerned that despite a series of tuition hikes, little of the money raised seemed to be going back into basic classroom instruction.

"We're not a business. We're a university at the end of the day, and the students are the clients," Smoot said.

Smoot welcomed the Board of Governor's decision to appoint Frank as interim president.

While he's been at the helm

Some highlights from Larry Penley's tenure as CSU president:

* August 2003: Penley appointed CSU's 13th president

* June 2004: In his first State of CSU address, he warns that Colorado needs to fix the way it funds higher education and unsnarl conflicts between spending limits of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights and spending mandates for K-12 schools.

* May 2005: Beer sales resume at football games but Penley cracks down on tailgate parties and enacts other alcohol reforms.

* September 2007: CSU raises a record $296 million in one fiscal year.

* July 2008: CSU announces creation of School of Global Environmental Sustainability to train workers in the field of alternative energy.

Comments

  • November 5, 2008

    6:02 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    rkoehler writes:

    Resign in mid-year and give only 3 weeks notice! What are the real reasons for his resignation? What dirt on him was discovered that led to his being forced to resign?

  • November 5, 2008

    6:10 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    ifyem writes:

    Sounds a bit fishy to me..Hopefully the new Pres can attract some better talent up there..

  • November 5, 2008

    7:47 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    WendyNorris writes:

    The Colorado Independent published an investigative series in Sept. on Penley's tenure at CSU marked by tripling his office budget while slashing academics and library services. Students and faculty also charged Penley was moving the school from its land grant mission to a corporate donor-beholden research institution.

    Read more here: http://coloradoindependent.com/14447/...

  • November 5, 2008

    9:45 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    rkoehler writes:

    He was out for himself while at CSU. He sought to enrich his pocketbook while running the university into the ground.

  • November 6, 2008

    8:25 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Cicero writes:

    Why did they agree to pay him a year's salary for bailing out of his contractual obligation early? Did he jump, or was he pushed?

  • November 6, 2008

    8:41 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    JluvDC writes:

    Why does he get an extra year salary for quitting? I guarantee if I quit a job they wouldn't be giving me a year salary. This is why people no longer trust government, large corporations, CEO's, and other high paid officials anymore. They all just sit around giving away tax payer money to each other. And people are seriously worried about a "redistribution of wealth to the middle class"...it boggles my mind.

  • November 6, 2008

    8:49 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Oh_Wise_One writes:

    I hear that Ward Churchill is available.

  • November 6, 2008

    8:49 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    wanta_bee writes:

    With the highest enrollment in history this will be a great loss to the Town of Ft. Collins and the University. Why is he getting a full years salary for terminating his contract I want to ask?

  • November 6, 2008

    9:19 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    BroncoDan writes:

    Wish I could quit my job with 3 weeks notice and get a years salary!!! I'd be outta here!

  • November 6, 2008

    10:14 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Spencer writes:

    lets hope the new person can fix the football team

  • November 6, 2008

    10:33 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    romaco writes:

    $389,000 for resigning...and they wonder why the economy is fubar..

  • November 6, 2008

    12:22 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Buckwheat writes:

    You resign, zero severance... 389k? How many kids have to sign up to cover that one? Wouldn't the monies be better spent on the school? This is just the regents way of padding their own pockets once they leave or retire. "well, If we quit or bail out of our own contract we can bonus too"...