Chancellor James H. McCormick, who has led the State System of Higher Education since its creation in July 1983, has been selected to serve in a similar position with the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU).

“I am excited, indeed, gratified to be given the opportunity to lead the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities,” McCormick said. “It is my intention to be a strong advocate, first and foremost, for the nearly 140,000 students who attend each of the 53 campuses stretched across the state.

“I look forward to the tremendous challenges that lie ahead, but am realistically sobered by them, too. I will need to be vigorous in my actions and draw upon all of my experiences in higher education to provide the best leadership possible for the people of Minnesota.”

The chancellor, who previously served for 10 years as president of Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and as vice president for administration at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, expects to remain in Pennsylvania until June 30, 2001 in accordance with the terms of his current contract.

“I have spent my entire career in public education, in the Commonwealth,” said McCormick whose first job was as a classroom teacher in western Pennsylvania. “The State System of Higher Education is something of which all Pennsylvanians can be extremely proud. Throughout their history the universities that comprise the State System have provided opportunity for a better future for all of those who have attended them.

“All of us associated with the State System can take great pride in the growth that has occurred in each of these institutions over these last nearly two decades.”

Shortly after the System was created by the state Legislature, McCormick was asked by the newly constituted Board of Governors to serve for a year as interim chancellor. He later was named chancellor following a nationwide search.

The System has enjoyed tremendous growth under McCormick’s leadership. Total enrollment at the 14 state-owned universities has gone from just less than 82,000 in the fall of 1983 to 96,275 this fall.

It has developed numerous programs that have gained national recognition, including its Partnership Programs with the Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Erie, Meadville and Harrisburg school districts, and the Academic Passport, which guarantees community college graduates admission to State System universities.

“Chancellor McCormick has been a strong leader and advocate for the State System of Higher Education,” said Board of Governors Chairman Charles A. Gomulka. “He has helped to build a state university system that is nationally recognized and that has provided and continues to provide great benefits to Pennsylvania.”

McCormick was identified by an executive search firm as a candidate for the Minnesota position. He later was selected by the Board as one of three finalists for the post and participated in two days of interviews. Terms of his news contract are yet to be negotiated.

MnSCU comprises 29 two-year colleges (community and technical colleges) and seven state universities.

The State System of Higher Education’s 14 universities offer more than 250 degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. More than 360,000 System 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. The System also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Kittanning, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg and the University Center for Southwest Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh. The regional centers are part of the Educational Resources Group, which is responsible for coordinating statewide programming.