Velmer S. Burton, Jr.
Chancellor Burton resigns
Published on October 23, 2004
Velmer S. Burton, Jr., has announced his resignation as chancellor of the University of Minnesota, Crookston, effective on October 21. He plans to return to his academic career at the University of Minnesota.
"I have enjoyed the challenge and opportunity of leading the Crookston campus during the past year," said Burton. "I have accomplished much of what I had set out to do in making the U of M, Crookston campus more effective and efficient. It's clear new leadership will be needed to build on these changes. I am genuinely excited to focus on my academic pursuits as well as my family."
Burton was named chancellor of the Crookston campus in June 2003. During his tenure at Crookston he made a number of significant changes for the campus. Under Burton's leadership:
- The Crookston campus developed proposals for several new programs that address emerging workforce needs of Minnesota (communication, computer software technology, health science degrees, and criminal justice; bachelor of science degrees have been proposed in food safety, psychology, criminal justice, biology and environmental science),
- three academic centers were reorganized into five departments, increasing efficiencies and effectiveness,
- an institutional strategic planning process was implemented and a mid-year strategic budget review was put in place, and,
- an assessment of planned giving and development procedures was performed.
"Chancellor Burton has worked extremely hard to map out the direction we want the campus to go, and I am confident that the efforts he has made will have a long-term effect on the already high-quality academic programs at Crookston," Bruininks said. "I understand his desire to return to research and the classroom and wish him all the best."
Bruininks said that the search for a new chancellor will begin within the next few months. For the coming year, a campus leadership team, supported by central administration, will provide leadership.
"We're fortunate that Chancellor Burton has put a strong leadership team in place, and we will work with them and the committed faculty and staff of the Crookston campus to advance the strategic goals of the Crookston campus and the University system," said Bruininks.
--From the University News Service