WORTHINGTON -- Minnesota West Community and Technical College President Ron Wood has announced his retirement, effective June 30, 2008, a Tuesday press release said.
Minnesota West has campuses in Granite Falls, Canby, Jackson, Pipestone and Worthington.
Reached on his cell phone Tuesday, Wood confirmed his retirement plans, adding that he plans to remain in Worthington after June 30 and stay "part of the Minnesota West family" in some capacity.
"I'd been considering retirement for the last two years and had been considering June 30 just passed," said Wood, noting he wanted to remain at the helm to oversee new initiatives. "But I also have a really strong belief that in a higher education institution, it's about new leadership and new ideas. I always felt between nine and 10 years would be the length of time I would serve as president."
Wood said he submitted his letter of resignation to Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Chancellor James McCormick on Friday and informed college faculty and staff Monday. He said he wanted to provide early notice in order for the college and the Office of the Chancellor to have sufficient time to conduct a search for a new president.
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"It takes eight or nine months to find a new president," Wood said. "The minimum number of transitions that takes place for the college, the better it is."
During Wood's tenure as Minnesota West president, the college attained 10-year accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Enrollment has also remained steady, thanks in part to an expansion of online delivery; about 23 percent of its student population is now served this way.
"If I were to look at some of the things that have occurred, I think the college has taken a clear direction in online learning," Wood said. "Construction at the Worthington campus is also something we all worked hard for.
"I don't want anything framed as something I did," Wood continued. "I've always believed education is a collective action, and the accomplishments achieved over the past 10 years wouldn't have been possible without everyone, on all campuses and sites, working as a team."
Wood also said he was proud of the college's work in alternative energy fields, as well as the utilization of various partnerships with communities and business leaders to create new educational opportunities.
"I think we've become a national leader in terms of the application and training," he said. "Another project that comes to mind is the partnership the Minnesota West Worthington campus has formed with Prairie Holdings and District 518 (Board of Education)."
Wood hopes the coming year will bring a groundbreaking for the new Worthington Area YMCA on the Worthington Minnesota West campus, as well as the obtaining of approval for another construction project that involves renovation of the Worthington field house. Upon reaching his retirement date, Wood -- who was elected to the Worthington City Council last November and is the former chair of Worthington Regional Economic Development Corp. -- said he plans to remain active in Worthington.
"I'm not going anywhere," he said. "I plan to remain active in city government, in economic development. ... The other thing I'd really like to do in retirement is be a part of the Minnesota West family, whether it be teaching or continuing coaching. I also think I'd like to put my two cents out there in some of the educational journals."
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The process of selection for Wood's replacement will begin almost immediately, the press release stated. McCormick will name a liaison to coordinate the selection of a search committee that will be composed of representatives of all unions, community members and a presidential chair from a similar Minnesota State College. In early October, the search committee will begin developing criteria.
A national search is expected to begin in November, with applicant screening anticipated in mid-January. Interviews could be conducted as early as March, with the committee to refer three candidates to McCormick. He, along with Board of Trustees representation, will determine who to bring forward for confirmation of the entire Board of Trustees.
