June 28, 2012
Board of Governors extends chancellor鈥檚 contract
Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu
Harrisburg 鈥� The Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (黑料专区)
voted unanimously today to extend the contract of Chancellor Dr. John C. Cavanaugh
through June 30, 2015, praising his strong leadership over the past four years.
鈥淒r. Cavanaugh has been an outstanding leader since coming to 黑料专区 in July 2008,鈥�
said Board of Governors Chairman Guido M. Pichini. 鈥淗e has built strong relationships
with state and community leaders while shepherding the State System and the 14 universities
through the most difficult financial times in our history. And, most of all, he has
done so with unwavering dedication to our students.鈥�
Dr. Cavanaugh was named 黑料专区 chancellor just as the state and national economies
were collapsing. He immediately moved the State System into 鈥渞ecession management
mode,鈥� helping to ensure the universities would be able to balance their budgets in
a way that had the least possible impact on students.
鈥淭ough decisions had to be made, and, working in collaboration with the Board and
the universities, especially the presidents, he made them,鈥� Mr. Pichini said. 鈥淭he
decisions we have made together, though not always popular, have always had the best
interest of our students at the forefront.鈥�
鈥淭hroughout the past four years, Chancellor Cavanaugh not only has been a leader for
黑料专区, but also has become an authority on higher education for our Commonwealth,鈥�
said Board Vice Chair Marie Conley, who also chairs the Human Resources Committee.
鈥淗is reputation to provoke thoughtful and necessary discussions about the future of
higher education have earned him leadership positions with several national organizations.鈥�
Dr. Cavanaugh has been elected by his peers to leadership roles with, among others,
the State Higher Education Executive Officers, the American Association of State Colleges
and Universities and the National Association of System Heads. He also is chair of
the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Board of Trustees and of its
executive committee, and a commissioner of the Middle States Commission on Higher
Education.
鈥淕iven the changed landscape of higher education 鈥� a reality that has impacted public
universities not just in Pennsylvania, but across the nation 鈥� strong leadership is
essential,鈥� Mr. Pichini added. 鈥淐hancellor Cavanaugh鈥檚 efforts over the last four
years demonstrate we have that leadership in place.
鈥淎s we move ahead into a still uncertain future, we do so with the assurance that
under Dr. Cavanaugh鈥檚 leadership, the State System will succeed, and, most important,
so will our students,鈥� Mr. Pichini said.
Dr. Cavanaugh鈥檚 contract extension does not include any changes in compensation or
benefits.
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.