At its meeting today, The University of Akron’s Board of Trustees and President Scott L. Scarborough, Ph.D. mutually agreed that Dr. Scarborough will step down as President of The University of Akron, effective May 31, 2016.
The Board is charged with ensuring the effective governance, leadership and management of the University and, along with Dr. Scarborough, determined that new leadership is needed for the University to move forward and achieve sustained success in the future. The Board will conduct a rigorous and thorough search for a permanent president with the experience and qualities it believes are necessary to lead The University of Akron.
An interim president will be named in the near future. Until that appointment is made, the duties of the presidency will be fulfilled by Interim Senior Vice President and Provost Rex Ramsier, Ph.D., the University’s Chief Academic Officer.
When the Board selected Dr. Scarborough to serve as President, our top priorities for him were to address the financial and enrollment challenges the University faced and to work with our faculty and staff to enhance the quality of the educational experience our students receive.
The Board is grateful to him for his effort and recognizes that addressing those challenges required courage and the willingness to consider, and in some cases, implement needed changes in the way the University operates.
We wish Dr. Scarborough and his family the best as they move forward.
The University of Akron offers so much to so many people, and although a number of challenges remain, the opportunities in front of us are many. Now is truly the time for all of us who care for the University to come together in a united effort to support the University and help ensure its success in the months and years ahead.
Letter from President Scarborough to Faculty, Staff and Students
The University’s Board of Trustees and I have mutually agreed that, effective May 31st, I will step down as President of The University of Akron. It is our belief that new leadership is needed for the University to move forward and achieve sustained success in the future.
I am honored to have had the opportunity to serve this great University and work not only to address the challenges that were before it when I arrived, but also to begin the process of change that is necessary for the University to succeed in the rapidly changing environment of higher education.
I am grateful to the Board of Trustees for giving me the opportunity to serve. As I look forward to the next chapter in my life, I hope that our faculty and staff, our passionate alumni, generous donors and committed and sincere members of the Akron community come together to advance the process of change and continuous improvement necessary for The University of Akron to realize its vast potential.
Sincerely,
Scott L. Scarborough, Ph.D.
