SUNY Chancellor Robert King announced on Sunday his intention to resign, ending months of speculation surrounding his leadership.
In a letter to the SUNY Board of Trustees, King said he plans to step down June 1 and would like to next serve as the interim president of the SUNY College at Potsdam.
A close friend and former aide to Gov. George Pataki, King faced controversy in January when announced he would take a six-month paid leave worth $170,000, but he changed his mind before the trustees could vote on the sabbatical.
Some critical legislators called the sabbatical an unnecessarily generous way of removing King after he lost his support from Pataki and the trustees, according to the New York Times.
Ron Canestrari, a state assemblyman and chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee, said the resignation comes as no surprise.
"It's been a tough few months for the chancellor with his planned sabbatical that was rejected and the tuition fiasco," he said.
Many SUNY officials have long criticized King for working in the best interests of Pataki, rather than the schools and students, when it came to the issue of tuition. During King's tenure, in-state tuition rose 28 percent, to $4,350.
"That's part of his legacy, unfortunately," Canestrari said. "Also under his watch, students are bearing more of the costs of the SUNY system with tuition and fees going up. It's not his responsibility alone obviously, but it certainly occurred under his watch and it has not been a plus for the system."
Trustee Edward Cox, one of King's supporters, said he was the "right man for the job at the right time," and the SUNY system is better off than it was before he became chancellor, according to the New York Times.
UB President John Simpson highlighted King's vision and support.
"I've enjoyed working with Bob King," Simpson said. "His goals and aspirations for SUNY have been very good. He has been quite supportive of me and the other presidents doing our jobs. He'll be missed."
Although he is officially stepping down, King has not heard the last of his critics. Many are now questioning the offer from SUNY Chairman Thomas Egan for King to become the next president of Potsdam.
King would also be named a university professor, a special faculty rank, and earn $206,000 in the interim presidency. According to the New York Times, King would have the highest paid position in the SUNY system.
"I have a problem with that," Canestrari said. "I think it looks terrible. It looks as if they're giving him a golden parachute."
According to SUNY spokesman David Henahan, the trustees will meet to consider King's resignation and possible presidency on April 12.
Although several names have already popped up in rumors concerning who will replace King, Henahan said there aren't any details yet about the search for a new chancellor. Among the rumored names in The Buffalo News was former UB provost, and current SUNY vice chancellor, Elizabeth Capaldi.
Canestrari said an in-house choice could be suitable, but SUNY should not "make a decision in a vacuum."
"We cannot look like it's the old boys network here making a decision," Canestrari said. "It must be a national search. We deserved the best, and part of King's problem was his closeness with the governor, and we thought he wasn't a cheerleader for the system as much as he was a cheerleader for the governor and his policies."
Canestrari said the biggest issues the new chancellor will face include tuition, funding problems, and a politicized SUNY with morale problems.
"That hearkens back to the chancellor's background and lack of experience in academia," he said.
In his letter to the trustees, King said SUNY has met many of the challenges during his tenure while doubling research and settling record enrollment numbers.
"I know that the University is in good hands," King said in the letter. "It will continue to thrive so long as thoughtful, collaborative relationships link the board and the next chancellor to the faculty and our students."
Photo: Courtesy of SUNY
