HOUGHTON, MI-- Michigan Technological University President Glenn Mroz has announced he’s returning to faculty next year.
In an open letter to the university community Wednesday Mroz said he and the rest of the administration have worked to develop a plan for leadership succession. The announcement marks the beginning of a period of transition, which will allow the board to conduct a thorough search.
Mroz says he’ll step down no sooner than June 30 of next year.
Mroz became Tech’s ninth president in 2004. He’s the third-longest-serving current president among Michigan’s public universities, and will be the fourth-longest-serving president at Tech by the time he steps down.
Mroz released the following letter:
Dear Michigan Tech Community,
After much thought and deliberation, I am writing to let you know that yesterday I informed the Board of Trustees of my intent to return to the Michigan Tech faculty ranks as of June 30, 2018.
For some time now, the University leadership and I have worked to develop a comprehensive plan in anticipation of leadership succession. This announcement marks the beginning of a period of transition, allowing the Board of Trustees to conduct a thorough and effective search.
Communications like these often bring feelings of uncertainty, and with uncertainty sometimes comes a predilection to delay decision-making. I have no intention of allowing Michigan Tech to lose its forward momentum. The University owes you nothing less.
The Board of Trustees is organizing the search and will provide brief details at their open meeting on April 28.
When President Ray Smith informed the then Board of Control of his intention to step down as president in 1978, he wrote, “My reason is simple. It’s time.” I can’t say it better than that.
Warm regards,
Glenn