By Staff
Media General News Service
Media General News Service
University of Rhode Island President Robert Carothers says he plans to leave office when his contract expires in 2009.
By University of Rhode Island Photo
By University of Rhode Island Photo
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PROVIDENCE - University of Rhode Island President Robert Carothers says he will not seek an additional three-year contact when his current contract concludes in June 2009.
Carothers, 65, explained that at that time, and in this stage of his career, there will be other opportunities and ways in which he can serve the people of Rhode Island.
Carothers said he plans to leave office when his contract expires in 2009, although he would consider staying for an additional year so a new provost could settle into office.
"The whole place, including me, is under a lot of stress," Carothers said.
Rhode Island's only state university is in the middle of an accreditation review, which happens once a decade. At the same time, Carothers said faculty and administrators on campus are worried about how the state's financial crisis could affect the higher education system.
Gov. Don Carcieri has said that all state departments will have to cut costs.
As state funding for the school has fallen over the years, URI has tried to make up the difference by attracting more tuition-paying students. But now academic departments are struggling to provide enough classes and advisers for 14,800 students, an 800-student increase over last year.
"We are doing all we can with the resources we have, but we are concerned about having enough faculty and offering enough sections," said Winifred Brownell, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Carothers, 65, explained that at that time, and in this stage of his career, there will be other opportunities and ways in which he can serve the people of Rhode Island.
Carothers said he plans to leave office when his contract expires in 2009, although he would consider staying for an additional year so a new provost could settle into office.
"The whole place, including me, is under a lot of stress," Carothers said.
Rhode Island's only state university is in the middle of an accreditation review, which happens once a decade. At the same time, Carothers said faculty and administrators on campus are worried about how the state's financial crisis could affect the higher education system.
Gov. Don Carcieri has said that all state departments will have to cut costs.
As state funding for the school has fallen over the years, URI has tried to make up the difference by attracting more tuition-paying students. But now academic departments are struggling to provide enough classes and advisers for 14,800 students, an 800-student increase over last year.
"We are doing all we can with the resources we have, but we are concerned about having enough faculty and offering enough sections," said Winifred Brownell, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.