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Updated 11:20 a.m.
University of Northern Iowa President Ben Allen will retire no later than July 1, 2013.
The announcement came during a Board of Regents meeting on the UNI campus today.
"It has truly been an honor serving as president of UNI these past six years," said Allen in a press release. "Pat and I believe this is a very special place and we have enjoyed working alongside so many talented students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the university."
Allen has been UNI's president for six years. He was named president in April 2006 and assumed his duties in June 2006.
The Board of Regents will conduct a search to replace Allen. He will plan to retire no later than July 1, 2013, based on when a new president is appointed and is ready to take over.
“The Board is most proud and appreciative of Ben’s leadership role in Iowa's Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) initiative, and his extraordinary work in leading UNI through significant economic challenges,” said Board of Regents President Craig Lang.
Those economic challenges led to challenges and controversy for Allen. He came under fire earlier this year when UNI enacted budget cuts, which included the closure of dozens of academic programs, the University Museum and Malcolm Price Laboratory School.
A press release from UNI's University Relations sought to cast those challenges in a positive light, listing, "Managing UNI through some of the toughest economic times in recent history," among Allen's accomplishments.
Other accomplishments listed are:
- A leadership role in Iowa's Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) initiative
- Establishment of the Richard O. Jacobson Center for Comprehensive Literacy
- Meeting the UNI Foundation's "Imagine the Impact" campaign's $150 million goal one year early
- A visit to UNI by His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet
Proud UNI Grad
11:09 am on Friday, August 3, 2012
I will be very sad to see him go. He has been a great leader and advocate of UNI in a state that does nothing but diminish the relevance of our "little #3 school". Thank you for your time and service to UNI, President Allen.
askmeaboutmywerner
12:24 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Ha. Let's look at his most notable works: eliminating nearly one quarter of majors, dropping enrollment, closure of the best R&D school in the world, harassing tenured faculty and forcing them to retire, acting as a grandpa figure for thousands of 18 year old girls, and kowtowing to the Tea Party Governor/Board of Regents.
Denny Feltz
11:14 am on Friday, August 3, 2012
Curious, isn't it?
UNIGrad97
11:37 am on Friday, August 3, 2012
Don't let the door hit you on the way out, Ben.
Proud UNI Grad
12:53 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Don't forget that he caused global warming, murdered and disposed of Jimmy Hoffa, and killed the last Big Foot. "Best R&D school in the WORLD"??? :O
toddthomas
5:36 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Lets not let facts get in the way of the criticisms. Ben Allen took over in April of 2006 and enrollment was 12,260 and the official enrollment for 2011 was 13,168 so by my math it seems to be an increase of 908 or more than 7%. UNI did eliminate 22 undergraduate majors but nearly all had 10 or few graduates per year. They still have in excess of 120 majors offered. I won't even attempt to address the comment on the lab school as that is simply nonsense. It's true that President Allen made difficult decisions and they were not broadly popular, but he did what he believes was necessary. That is called leadership!