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Emert announces retirement as president of USU By
USU media relations and marketing
LOGAN -- After eight years at the helm of the state's second-largest public university, George H. Emert today announced his decision to step down as president of Utah State University at the end of the year. "With a profound sense of how my life has been enriched by being at Utah State University, I am hereby communicating my decision to step down as president," he wrote in a May 8 letter to Charles E. Johnson, chairman of the Utah State Board of Regents. (See letter, below) In his two-page letter, Emert praised students, faculty, staff, trustees, alumni, and friends for their work and support of him and his wife, Billie, during the past eight years. "It has been an honor to serve for and with these wonderful people," he said. "The talents, work ethic, and community-service orientation of Aggies have never failed to amaze us." Utah State Board of Regents Commissioner Cecelia H. Foxley commended the Emerts for their many lasting contributions to the university and the community. "USU has made progress on many fronts during President Emert's tenure," Foxley said. "Enrollment growth, contract and grant funding and alumni support are just a few of these areas. His wife Billie has been a gracious and supportive first lady of USU. I wish them the very best in their future." Board of Regents Chairman Charles E. Johnson said USU's stature and reach has increased during the Emert years. "I have a personal appreciation for George Emert," he said. "Utah State University has grown in size and reputation under his leadership. This progress is reflective of a dynamic president. Both George and Billie Emert will be missed." Emert, who refers to his time as the 13th president of USU as being "a gift, an absolute gift," said the university's tremendous growth and productivity is the result of the talents, work ethic and community-service orientation of students, personnel and supporters of the university. He praised faculty and staff for their extraordinary work and accomplishments that have helped to make the university one of the top land-grant institutions in the country. "Their efforts in the classrooms, laboratories, and field sites in Cache Valley, around the world, and into space are inspirational," he said. "They have stood on the shoulders of those who have gone before to elevate a fine land-grant university to a world-class institution of higher education that brings recognition, honor, and respect to our state and our nation." Hallmarks of the Emert administration include scholarship funding, alumni development and acquisition of art and sculptures. In addition, Utah State University has achieved unprecedented growth and accomplishments including, --record-breaking student enrollment. Student enrollment today is just under 21,000 compared to 17,000 in 1992. --record-breaking endowment. The value of the endowment is $76.5 million. The value has increased $52.8 million over the last eight years, which represents an increase of 223 percent. The earnings from these endowments support scholarships for USU students and various university programs. --record-breaking scholarship funding. Of the $29 million raised for scholarships during the school*s 112-year history, more than $23 million of that has been generated during the Emert administration. --creation of 47 alumni chapters. Chapters have been established in every county in the state and in several other states and countries around the world. --record-breaking amount of contract and grants funding. This past year USU faculty garnered $125 million in competitive grants, surpassing last year's record of $107 million. The university is currently on track to break yet another record in July with grants coming in at $135 million to $140 million. This puts USU solidly in the ranks of the top 50 universities nationally for annual research dollars generated and the top national research institution in dollars generated per faculty member. --USU named, for the first time, a Carnegie I Research Institution in 1994, placing it in the top 3 percent of research institutions in the United States. Other Carnegie I Research Institutions include Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Brown, Stanford and Cornell universities. --Carnegie Utah Professor of the Year four years in a row beginning in 1994. No other Utah university has achieved this distinction of back-to-back recognition. --construction and renovation of dozens of campus buildings including the Science and Technology Library, Old Main Phase III, Widtsoe Hall chemistry building, the Student Center, Space Dynamics Laboratory, Welcome Center of the American West Heritage Center, the Uintah Basin Education Center, the Utah Botanical Center, the Lyric Theatre, North Campus improvements, three pedestrian tunnels, and several student housing complexes totaling more than $150 million. --record expansion of distance education. USU courses were delivered to 79 sites -- a 50 percent leap over the 53 sites the year before. A record 462 distance education students graduated. Enrollments have increased dramatically over the past decade -- from 5,400 in 1989 to nearly 11,000 today. --acquisition of two dozen external sculptures now prominently displayed campus-wide on a Pathway to the Arts. This achievement, noted by faculty as significant and extraordinary, is a rarity at public-funded universities that are not heavily endowed. --creation of the USU Development Foundation consisting of friends of the university who are helping USU to obtain additional resources and planning for the university's long-term financial growth. This foundation is the first of its kind at USU. --major revamping of the general education program, the university's core curriculum. The faculty strengthened basic courses for freshmen and sophomores in response to marketplace needs for critical thinking skills, oral and written communication skills and service orientation. --creation of the American West Heritage Center that has created a partnership with the community for tourism development. --increased presence and a hands-on approach with members of the state legislature in communicating USU's funding needs and objectives. As a result, USU has consistently received critical state funding for programs, buildings, and salaries. This most recent session, the Utah State Legislature allocated a decade-high percentage for salary increases. --unparalleled athletic achievements, including 26 conference championships during the past eight years. While maintaining a balanced budget, USU athletics has also seen the completion of the $4.5 million Stan Laub Training Center, and with the construction of 1,800 seats and a $650,000 scoreboard and sound system, the renovation and expansion of Romney Football Stadium is well under way. The school also now enjoys new soccer and softball fields and a renovated track. Of note is the academic performance by scholar athletes who average a higher grade point average than the general studentbody, and who enjoy a respectable student-athlete graduation rate of 57 percent. --creation of the student Success Program to increase opportunities for student diversity. --creation of the County Aggies program to assist the university in communicating to local legislators university priorities and initiatives and communicating with local citizenry about their community needs. --record number of USU students are studying in other countries, continuing a three-year trend. --graduate program in the College of Education ranked 39th in the country in the Spring 2000 Issue of U.S. News and World Report. Of particular note, the college's $16.7 million in research dollars is seventh best in the nation. "As an institution, we are ready for even greater accomplishments in this new century," Emert said. "The university has a great and vital future that will benefit from a change in leadership to bring new perspectives and new energy to the job. "The university deserves enlightened, articulate, energetic, and enthusiastic support from a new president, the legislature, the board of regents and the commissioner of higher education. It is my confidence in the abilities of USU's faculty and staff to meet the challenges ahead that I make my decision at this time." Emert, 61, leaves his post Dec. 31. He said he is requesting a one-year transitional sabbatical in accordance with regent's policy. He started at USU July 1, 1992 after working eight years as executive vice president of Auburn University, where he helped to increase minority enrollment by 116 percent and graduate enrollment by 63 percent, and research expenditures by almost 300 percent. A native of Tennessee, Emert was a professor of biochemistry and director of the Biomass Research Center at the University of Arkansas before going to Auburn. His educational degrees are from Colorado and Virginia. He earned his Ph.D. at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in biochemistry and nutrition; his master's degree in zoology from Colorado State University and his bachelor's degree in zoology, with minors in chemistry and math from the University of Colorado. A decorated veteran of the Vietnam war, Emert is the father of four children. Text of Emert's letter of resignation: 8 May 2000 Charles E. Johnson Dear Chairman Johnson: With a profound sense of how my life has been enriched by being at Utah State University, I am hereby communicating my decision to step down as President effective 31 December 2000. During my years as President of USU, I have had the privilege of interacting with literally thousands of students, alumni, and friends of this great institution. Each of them has displayed a deep love and appreciation for their school. Billie and I have grown to share that love. It has been an honor to serve for and with these wonderful people. The talents, work ethic, and community-service orientation of Aggies have never failed to amaze us. The exemplary and effective efforts of the Board of Trustees is but one example of the incredible Aggie commitment. Billie and I have been blessed to be allowed to associate in this capacity with the people that make up the Aggie family. A tremendous gratifying aspect of my service at USU has been working and sharing with an extraordinary faculty and staff. Their efforts in the classrooms, laboratories, and the field sites in Cache Valley, around the world and into space are inspirational. They have "stood on the shoulders" of those who have gone before to elevate a fine land-grand university to a world class institution of higher education that brings recognition, honor and respect to our state and our nation. I salute them in their unfailing diligence and their outstanding efforts in meeting the academic, social, technological, and economic challenges facing mankind. Utah State University has a great and vital future. It deserves enlightened, articulate, energetic and enthusiastic support from a new President, the Legislature, the Board of Regents and the Commissioner. It is my confidence in the abilities of USU's faculty and the staff to meet the challenges ahead that I make my decision at this time. Please know that I shall facilitate the search for a new President in any way possible. The Utah State University presidency is an attractive position, especially because of recent achievements by our faculty and staff. There comes a time in the life of any institution for new leadership, new support, new direction, and revitalized efforts. Following my retirement as President on 31 December 2000, I request a one-year transitional sabbatical according to Regents' policy. At your convenience, I would like to discuss the details of the necessary arrangements with you. Finally, I extend to the Utah State University Board of Trustees and the Utah State Board of Regents my deepest appreciation for their encouragement, support, and leadership. On behalf of Billie and myself, thank you from the depths of our beings for the opportunity to serve USU and its people whom we both love. Very sincerely, George H. Emert
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