‘A difficult job’: Leadership vacancies persist in Michigan’s community colleges, public universities

By Sarah Atwood

satwood@detroitnews.com

Presidents of Michigan’s public universities do not stick round so long as they used to.

No less than, that is the way it appears. In 2025, two high-profile presidents of analysis universities left: the College of Michigan Santa Ono and that of Wayne State College Kimberly Andrews Espy. Then the chancellor of UM-Dearborn, Domenico Grassocrammed in as UM’s interim president with plans to retire after his time period, one other public college misplaced a president.

“It is at all times been a tough job. You are primarily governing what’s just like small cities,” mentioned Robert LeFevre, president of the Michigan Impartial Schools and Universities Affiliation. “The calls for are growing. Presidents are elevating cash continuous; they’re on the street loads.”

And it isn’t simply public universities which have suffered extra management losses previously 12 months. Six group faculty presidents left their positions for retirement or different jobs, together with at one among Michigan’s public universities.

Non-public universities, nevertheless, have been largely spared from the management adjustments this 12 months. One motive for that is that the presidents of those establishments sometimes don’t depart for different jobs, LeFevre mentioned. As a substitute, presidents stay in workplace till retirement, or in uncommon circumstances, resignation, he mentioned.

The longevity of Michigan’s greater training leaders largely mirrors nationwide traits, mentioned Erica Orians, vice chairman of the Michigan Neighborhood Faculty Affiliation.

Nationally, college presidents are staying on for much less time on account of the challenges going through all the sector. Enrollment declines, ongoing post-pandemic burnout, and rising issues about federal funding for operations and pupil monetary help are all prime priorities for greater training leaders.

Nonetheless, the job is as rewarding as ever, mentioned Dan Hurley, president of the Michigan Affiliation of State Universities.

“(Michigan’s) establishments have missions that excite and energize those that wish to be president,” he mentioned. “… Main the change is without doubt one of the most impactful issues anybody can do.”

Why Presidents Go away

The upper training sectors could have totally different missions and other ways of working. For instance, public universities are usually bigger, and unbiased faculties don’t obtain direct state or federal credit. Nevertheless, all are being hit by a decade of declining enrollment, declining funding for operations, pupil help, and management burnout.

Fewer college students are graduating from highschool on account of a long time of declining start charges in Michigan, and a few highschool graduates are selecting to instantly enter the workforce moderately than pursue a level. Nevertheless, faculties are discovering their footing. However Michigan has skilled enrollment has been on the rise again lately after a decade of decline.

Michigan universities suffered tens of millions in analysis funding losses on account of President Donald Trump’s administration’s shift in greater training priorities. This affected public universities, such because the College of Michigan and Michigan State College, but additionally, to a lesser extent, unbiased faculties, resembling Alma Faculty and Lawrence Technological College. the Center for American Progress reports.

Orians mentioned turnover in group faculty presidencies has been the very best since she began on the Michigan Neighborhood Faculty Affiliation a decade in the past. Nevertheless, she mentioned there was a wave of retirements this 12 months that has left extra faculties in search of leaders, and she or he does not suppose that development will proceed.

“Nobody is operating away from the challenges of upper training,” she mentioned. “That is why they began this work.”

However it’s arduous for a president to move up a chance that he believes is a greater match.

Russ Kavalhuna left his position at Henry Ford Neighborhood Faculty for the presidency at Western Michigan College. Mike Gavin left his position at Delta Faculty to proceed his work “defending fairness in greater training,” Inside Increased Ed reported in October.

Furthermore, tensions with a board of administrators can result in a president feeling pressured to go away. All the final everlasting presidents of Michigan’s prime analysis universities, the College of Michigan, Michigan State College and Wayne State College, left after reporting disputes with their boards.

UM’s Ono left for a job he finally did not get to the University of Florida after ascending tensions between him and the board for refusing to oppose President Donald Trump’s pointers for greater training. MSU’s Samuel Stanley resigned after he “misplaced confidence” within the faculty board, a month after the board requested him to resign failure to report an incident of alleged sexual misconduct. WSU’s Espy was pressured to resign by the board, Sources report this to The Newsafter issues about her management and the dealing with of inserting a beloved dean on paid administrative depart with out saying why.

LeFevre mentioned that whereas presidents of unbiased faculties in Michigan sometimes do not depart for different jobs, that did not imply the trade hadn’t had big vacancies in management over the previous 12 months. Just a few years in the past, seven presidents retired or have been fired, he mentioned.

“As soon as presidents slot in with their boards, the varsity and the group, they have a tendency to remain,” he mentioned.

How lengthy presidents keep

Amongst all sitting faculty presidents in Michigan, the typical time period in workplace is about three years, with most having served about 18 months within the place, in response to an evaluation of the size of presidential phrases by The Detroit Information. Three presidents have been elected this 12 months.

Hurley attributes this to a “cyclical” transition over the previous twelve to eighteen months. Whereas the variety of public universities which have sought a everlasting president in 2025 is greater than in earlier years, he does not consider it is a development that can final.

Impartial faculty and college presidents presently on this position have caught round slightly longer, a assessment reveals. The typical time period for a sitting president is simply over 5 years, with most serving for 3 years.

4 non-public college presidents have served on this position for greater than a decade: Jeffrey Docking of Adrian Faculty, Robert McMahan of Kettering College, Steven Corey of the College of Olivet and Brent Ellis of Spring Arbor College.

A assessment reveals that the time period of workplace for sitting group faculty presidents is longer, at about seven years, with most presidents having been in workplace for about 5 years.

Two Michigan group faculty presidents have a few of the longest tenures of any Michigan greater training president. Daniel Phelan of Jackson Faculty has held the place since 2001, and Curtis Ivery of Wayne County Neighborhood Faculty has held the place since 1995.

In a 2020 interview of Miscellaneous: problems in higher educationIvery, who acquired the journal’s Champion Award that 12 months, mentioned he was passionate in regards to the work he did due to the impression it had on his college students.

“After I discuss in regards to the curriculum and outcomes, it isn’t summary to me,” he instructed the journal. “Nothing replaces the eagerness and love I’ve for individuals. I really consider that training is the one approach out. And I do not stutter about that. I’m so dedicated to that.”

Orians mentioned the Michigan Neighborhood Faculty Affiliation’s Management Academy is making an attempt to arrange potential group faculty presidents, who’re directors or senior school, to tackle the position if the present president leaves. Those that have accomplished the academy have discovered work as presidents at faculties in Michigan or different states.

“Future leaders are outfitted to guide (via the academy),” she mentioned. “They usually know the faculties, the group… it is an actual hallmark of group faculties.”