The Adams State University Board of Trustees has accepted the resignation of ASU President Dr. Beverlee McClure, effective March 31, 2018. Dr. McClure was appointed president of the university on July 1, 2015, and over the past two and a half years guided the university through a period of transition with its distance-learning programs and worked to develop a number of agriculture-related programs and partnerships in the community.
"After discussions with Dr. McClure and her representatives, the Board of Trustees for ASU have agreed to a resolution and acceptance of Dr. McClure’s resignation," said Board Chair Cleave Simpson. "The resolution is both respectful of Dr. McClure and responsible to ASU."
Adams State Trustees placed Dr. McClure on a leave of absence in February after determining that there was a lack of congruence between the priorities of Dr. McClure and those of the Board of Trustees. At the request of the Board, Dr. Matt Nehring began serving as Acting President on February 12, 2018.
The Trustees are prepared to begin the process to identify new leadership for Adams State. "The Board looks forward to receiving input from campus and community groups as the University identifies the right leader for ASU at this point in the University’s history," Chairman Simpson said. "The Board will be providing the details about the process in the very near future."
He added that ASU Trustees, "look forward to a stronger, more financially stable institution, one comprised of exceptional talent and dedication from a broad spectrum of stakeholders. We still serve an exceptional student body and continue to advance both our institutional and statutory missions."
Dr. Nehring will represent Adams State in June when the Higher Learning Commission takes up Adams State’s probation status. Distance education concerns were the primary reason Adams State was placed on probation in March 2016 by the Higher Learning Commission, which is one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States.
Since the probation went into effect, Adams State has undergone a thorough examination of all of its distance-learning programs and processes and anticipates having its probation status lifted when the Higher Learning Commission Board meets at the end of June. A recommendation to remove probation status has been made by a site visiting team, which commended Adams State for the progress it has made in addressing prior HLC concerns and resolving federal compliance concerns.
Prior to the HLC meeting in June, Adams State will send a team of three consisting of the Interim President, the Accreditation Liaison Officer, and Chief Financial Officer to participate in an April hearing before the Institutional Actions Council.
Dr. Nehring, along with Finance Director Heather Heersink, Vice President of Student Affairs Ken Marquez, Chief Operating Officer Kurt Cary, Athletic Director Larry Mortensen and Director of Human Resources Tracy Rogers, have been diligently working on a recommendation to submit to the Board of Trustees outlining a Financial Action Plan for the university’s next fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2018.
Adams State’s Financial Action Plan will be discussed when the ASU Trustees meet on Thursday and Friday. The Board is expected to take action on recommendations that will involve $2.7 million of alignment of resources, including substantial cuts that will influence Adams State’s next fiscal year budget.
Dr. McClure, in a statement to the Trustees, said she is proud of the accomplishments the university achieved since 2015. "I believe this current Board is poised to make courageous decisions about the future of Adams State University and to build on the many successes since 2015. I wish Adams State University and the San Luis Valley the very best."
