Last week brought a change of leadership at CSU with the resignation of President Larry Penley. The Colorado State University System Board of Governors appreciates Penley's years of service to the institution and has appointed Tony Frank, Ph.D., to lead CSU as interim president.

The Board of Governors is confident that CSU is strong and well-positioned to move forward as the premier land-grant university for the 21st century. We are extremely proud of the quality and caliber of our undergraduate, graduate and professional degree students. The board is also committed to do all we can to ensure access to high-quality, competitive and affordable higher education.

We are equally proud of the outstanding faculty and talented staff at CSU and the board will continue to encourage and support the campus as it achieves higher levels of excellence through our stretch goals and institutional strategic plan. The board is especially pleased with the veterinary school's continuous top ranking as well as the progress made through innovative and collaborative efforts such as the School of Global Environmental Sustainability, the comprehensive student retention plan and the very recent announcement of the Center for Environmental Medicine.

CSU will continue to make the dynamic progress it has in clean energy technology, cures for cancer, joint replacement, infectious disease prevention and treatment, business and entrepreneurial pursuits, and attracting the next generation of dance, music and theatre students with the new University Center for the Arts.

In addition to delivering an outstanding undergraduate, graduate and professional degree education, CSU touches every Colorado county through 59 extension centers. It is the only university in the state that serves Colorado's young and old, urban and rural, as well as agriculture communities to new energy technologies. These centers are resources for the community by delivering the latest research and local education, including natural resource management, nutrition, gardening and commercial horticulture, and introducing the latest agricultural production technologies.

The CSU Extension 4-H program is the largest in the state reaching more than 100,000 young Coloradans annually, more than half in urban communities. No other Colorado university has this reach around the state. We will continue to share our expertise with vintners in Colorado, cattle ranchers and through the work of our Colorado State Forest Service students and faculty, who are working to conserve and restore Colorado's forests especially in areas damaged by the mountain pine beetle.

During the next few months, the board plans to let Frank settle into his new role. He has our confidence and support to keep the positive momentum CSU has gained in recent years.

The board expects to start a discussion about a presidential search in early 2009. This will take time as we have a dynamic university that continues to grow in areas of strategic importance, and we must be thoughtful and inclusive as we search for a new leader.

The Board of Governors for the CSU System is proud of CSU's nearly 140-year history, including the dramatic growth at CSU-Pueblo, the successful launch of CSU-Global Campus and the more than 88,000 alumni contributing to Colorado's prosperity. As we are proud of its history, we are committed to fulfilling the promise of its bright future.

CSU System Board of Governors: Douglas L. Jones, Chair (author on behalf of the board); Joe Blake; Bonifacio A. Cosyleon; Phyllis "Diane" Evans; Thomas Farley; Patrick Grant; Ed Haselden; Patrick McConathy and Marguerite Salazar.