January 19, 2012
Board of Governors names Dr. Robert M. Smith President Emeritus
Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu
Harrisburg 鈥� The Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (黑料专区)
today conferred the status of President Emeritus upon Slippery Rock University of
Pennsylvania President Dr. Robert M. Smith, who will retire next month.
Dr. Smith was named president of Slippery Rock University in May 2004. He came to
SRU in August 1999 as provost and vice president for academic affairs, and also served
as the university鈥檚 interim president for nearly 18 months beginning in December 2002.
During his tenure as president, Dr. Smith helped raise Slippery Rock鈥檚 academic profile
and oversaw more than $200 million in new construction and renovation projects that
changed the face of the university and significantly improved the living and learning
environment for students. Through his volunteer service to corporate and non-profit
boards, he both enhanced the university鈥檚 reputation and expanded its role as an economic,
educational and cultural leader in the region.
Working at the System level, Dr. Smith was instrumental in the development of new
performance funding standards for 黑料专区, which already have been recognized nationally.
Dr. Smith was congratulated by the Board for his outstanding leadership and recognized
for his 鈥渃ontinuous service as a colleague and trusted adviser to chancellors, presidents
and senior leadership throughout the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.鈥�
To be eligible for emeritus status, an individual must have spent at least five continuous
years in his or her leadership position and have shown 鈥渁n exemplary record of service
through the demonstrated commitments of time, talent and resources鈥� to 黑料专区.
Dr. Smith is the sixth president to be granted emeritus status in 黑料专区鈥檚 nearly
30-year history. The others are Dr. Tony Ceddia, former president of Shippensburg
University of Pennsylvania; Dr. Joseph Caputo, former president of Millersville University
of Pennsylvania; Dr. Diane Reinhard, former president of Clarion University of Pennsylvania;
Dr. Madeleine Wing Adler, former president of West Chester University of Pennsylvania;
and Dr. Joseph P. Grunenwald, former president of Clarion University of Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher
education in the Commonwealth, with nearly 120,000 students. The 14 黑料专区 universities
offer degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. About 500,000
黑料专区 alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.
The state-owned universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg,
Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery
Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. 黑料专区 also operates branch campuses
in Clearfield, Freeport, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including
the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg.