The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s Board of Governors has extended the contracts of nine PASSHE university presidents through June 30, 2007. The presidents whose terms each were extended by one year are:

· Dr. Jessica S. Kozloff, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

· Dr. Angelo Armenti Jr., California University of Pennsylvania

· Dr. Joseph P. Grunenwald, Clarion University of Pennsylvania

· Dr. Robert J. Dillman, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

· Dr. Frank G. Pogue, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

· Dr. F. Javier Cevallos, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

· Dr. John R. Halstead, Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

· Dr. Francine G. McNairy, Millersville University of Pennsylvania

· Dr. Madeleine Wing Adler, West Chester University of Pennsylvania

The Board also extended the contract of Cheyney University of Pennsylvania Interim President Wallace C. Arnold through June 30, 2007. Mr. Arnold was named interim president in January. He will continue to lead the university as it seeks continuing accreditation by both the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) in the spring and fall of 2006.

Four university presidents were not eligible for contract extensions during this round of reviews because they were hired since July 1, 2003 or have announced plans to retire.

Dr. Robert M. Smith was named president of Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania in May and Dr. Keith T. Miller assumed the presidency of Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania in July. Both were given three-year contracts upon their hiring.

Dr. Diane L. Reinhard has been serving as interim president of Indiana University of Pennsylvania since January. She plans to step down after a permanent president is named. Applicants for the position are scheduled to begin visiting the IUP campus later this month and a new president could be selected before the end of the year.

Dr. Anthony F. Ceddia will retire on June 30, 2005 after 24 years as president of Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. A search committee has been formed to help find a successor.

The Board of Governors is responsible for the employment of the 14 PASSHE university presidents. The decision whether to renew a president’s contract is made annually, based on the recommendations of each University’s Council of Trustees and PASSHE Chancellor Dr. Judy G. Hample.

With a combined enrollment of nearly 106,000 students, PASSHE is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth. The 14 PASSHE universities offer more than 250 degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. Nearly 400,000 PASSHE 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. PASSHE also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Kittanning, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg.