UI Springfield Chancellor Steps Down

The University of Illinois will lose another leader. The head of the Springfield campus, Chancellor Richard Ringeisen, announced his retirement Monday.

Ringeisen says his decision to leave UIS after nearly a decade has everything to do with wanting more time with his grandchildren, and nothing to do with the university's financial troubles. Delays in state payments have led to furloughs and layoffs. Further cuts -- possibly as high as 15% -- are expected.

Ringeisen says he will stay on until the end of October, then he and his wife will move to South Carolina. "It will be difficult to leave a job I love. An institution I love. And a city that has become a wonderful home to Carolyn and me," Ringheisen said.

Ringeisen says since he became chancellor he's proud of overseeing a nationally recognized online degree program ... expanding athletics ... developing a fine arts program ... and transitioning a two-year school into a more traditional four-year one. "The kind of small public arts university that Illinois did not have," Ringheisen said. "Well, it has one now."

Ringeisen says the search for a successor will begin soon, but that one won't be in place by the time he leaves. He says the provost could take over in the interim with a new chancellor on board early in 2011. Ringeisen says he'll stay on even then as a special advisor to the university president.