When Chancellor Kenneth A. Shaw approached the microphone April 10 at the men’s basketball championship celebration and declared he would be back for another year, his joke came as a surprise to no one.

But Wednesday, just weeks after the celebration, he made another announcement about his future, this time without a punchline. Shaw will retire from his position as chancellor effective the Fall 2004 semester. He said that he plans to take a leave of absence for a year and then return to the university to teach. He originally planned to make the announcement at the April 4 Board of Trustees meeting but the basketball team’s championship run led to the delay.

“I’ve been doing pretty much the same thing for 27 years now,” Shaw said.

Shaw became chancellor in 1991 when he left his post as president for the University of Wisconsin, taking over for Melvin A. Eggers. Upon his arrival at SU, Shaw faced budget cuts of more than $60 million and the loss of more than 600 jobs. His legacy will show his leadership through dire fiscal straits along with the implementation of programs to improve technology on campus. He has also expanded several buildings on campus and has continued to work with donors on funds coming into SU.

Vice Chancellor Deborah Freund said that Shaw will continue to raise funds for the Academic Plan and will work with her to make other student-centered items happen.

“In a nutshell he is a visionary academic leader and a sensitive administrator who combines great leadership intuition with the skills of a business man,” Freund said. “He has been a wonderful mentor. I will miss working with him daily and his guidance.’

Now Syracuse University will have to look for someone new to take over Shaw’s duties and become the 11th chancellor in university history. Only Joe Lampe, chairman of the SU Board of Trustees, knew of Shaw’s decision before he made it known first to the board, then to university donors, the university community and finally the media, Shaw said.

David M. Rubin, dean of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, was surprised at Shaw’s retirement but also thought it important to think of all the things Shaw has done during his tenure, including managing the budget and working on new development for SU.

“I am saddened at his leaving, it is a real loss,” Rubin said. “When you have a person who has given 12 — and by the time he leaves 13 — years to one institution stability like that is very important.”

Gov. George E. Pataki released a statement Wednesday crediting Shaw for his leadership in placing SU and the entire Central New York region on the map for business growth, research and development.

“Although he may be retiring, he will leave a lasting benefit that will benefit the university and the Central New York region for generations to come,” Pataki said.

Lampe will now be the chairman for the committee comprised of nine board members, seven faculty, two undergraduate representatives, one graduate representative, one staff member, one dean, one member of the Chancellor’s Cabinet and the executive secretary that will choose the next chancellor, Shaw said. The committee will not rule out candidates from within the university, he said.

During the time a decision is being made Shaw said he will work to ensure a smooth transition before he takes his leave of absence. During that time he said he hopes to work on planning classes in leadership.

“I was way too busy trying to keep this a secret to discuss them with anybody,” Shaw said.

Asst. News Editors John Nuthall and Daniel Rivero contributed to this report.

Published on April 23, 2003 at 12:00 pm