ST. CLOUD — St. Cloud State University’s acting president is leaving the university.
Larry Lee has resigned from the university to become president at Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois. He made the announcement to the SCSU community in a Monday, May 20, email.
“I write today to share personal news; I have been offered, and have accepted, the role of president at Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois,” Lee wrote. “While accepting the opportunity to serve as Blackburn's 20th President in its 187-year history is an honor, I can't say making this decision was easy.”
Just two weeks ago, Lee was appointed acting SCSU president by Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Chancellor Scott Olson, effective May 5. He was replacing outgoing SCSU President Robbyn Wacker, who was to leave the university at the end of her contract on June 30, but announced earlier this month she was stepping away from the role two months earlier than expected.
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Beginning Sunday, May 5, Larry Lee, SCSU’s vice president for finance and administration, will be acting SCSU president. Wacker was to remain president until June 30.
May 2
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By Lauren Breunig
Interim president Larry Dietz will start at SCSU beginning July 1.
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Lee, who had been the SCSU vice president for finance and administration, said he will continue to work until Dietz begins his tenure.
“I remain committed, of course, to serving as Acting President until Interim President Designate Larry Dietz arrives July 1, and look forward to providing the University with a smooth transition until my last day with the University, which will be July 18,” Lee wrote.
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Current President Robbyn Wacker will leave her position on June 30, 2024, upon completion of her contract, according to a news release. Wacker has led the university since 2018.
Financial struggles
On May 6, one day after becoming SCSU's acting president, Lee announced the university was looking into making major cuts to its programming offerings as well as reducing staff. The changes were to address SCSU's ongoing budget deficit, according to university administrators.
The May 6 budget update presentation identified four challenge areas for the university:
- Space
- Staffing inefficiency
- Facility and IT funding
- Dollars to renovate, improve, invest
The university lost $18 million last year and is projected to lose $5.5 million this year, according to the presentation. The school's deficit was made smaller by one-time funding from the state.
During the meeting, SCSU leadership suggested it might discontinue 46 of the university’s 136 degree programs. Some of the programs are criminal justice, Spanish, gender and women’s studies, sociology, physics, environmental science and economics.
It was also suggested that the university would cut 13% — or 50 of its 85 — minor degree programs.
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This is a developing story. It will be updated.
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Wacker's six years as university president were marked by historic low enrollment, a contentious roll-out of increased online classes and the elimination of the football program.
May 10
·
By Lauren Breunig
Full text of Larry Lee's May 20 email
Colleagues,
I write today to share personal news; I have been offered, and have accepted, the role of president at Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois.
While accepting the opportunity to serve as Blackburn's 20th President in its 187-year history is an honor, I can't say making this decision was easy.
I care deeply for St. Cloud State University and have cherished the trust that faculty and staff have bestowed upon me. I have enjoyed developing solutions to our challenges in partnership with all of you, and I believe wholeheartedly in a bright future for this University. I'd love to stay and see it from the inside, but instead will enjoy watching SCSU flourish from afar.
I remain committed, of course, to serving as Acting President until Interim President Designate Larry Dietz arrives July 1, and look forward to providing the University with a smooth transition until my last day with the University, which will be July 18.
I have had the opportunity to speak with Chancellor Olson and Interim President Designate Lany Dietz and I know that SCSU is in wonderful hands. During the transition and until a new permanent CFO is identified, Dan Golombiecki will serve as the interim Vice President for Finance and Administration. Dan has served SCSU for more than 10 years and has earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from SCSU. He is a wonderful professional and will serve the University well in this new role. I have the utmost confidence in Dan and his leadership.
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Further information about the process and timeline for identifying a permanent CFO will be shared as it becomes available.
Thank you, all, for your friendship, collegiality, and passion for St. Cloud State. I will miss working with you.
Sincerely,
Larry Lee
FROM THE ARCHIVE
