MnSCU begins search for new chancellor

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system is about to begin the search for a new leader.

David Olson, who just ended a six-year term as head of the MnSCU board of trustees, will lead a search committee to find the system's next chancellor. Members of the committee will be appointed later this month.

Current chancellor James McCormick will retire next summer.

Chair of the MnSCU board, Scott Thiss, says the next chancellor will need to deal with issues such as declining state funding and rapid enrollment growth.

"It's financial challenges, our community colleges are growing in terms of enrollment, it's technology challenges, online learning, students wanting to learn in new and different ways," Thiss said.

Thiss says they hope to have a final candidate picked within the first few months of next year.

The University of Minnesota is also searching for a new leader. President Robert Bruininks plans to return to teaching when his contract runs out next summer.