Nelms to resign as 'U' Flint chancellor

Sites a desire to 'pursue other opportunities' as reason for departure.

Charlie Nelms announced his plans to retire after a relatively short - but eventful - career as chancellor of the University's Flint campus.

He will officially step down July 31, making his stay in Flint just less than four years. Before taking the position in Flint, he was chancellor at Indiana University at Richmond for seven years.

"It wasn't a specific person, or event. I just wish to pursue other opportunities," Nelms said Tuesday.

"Eleven years is a long time being chancellor."

Nelms would not reveal what other opportunities he is pursuing, but he indicated that he plans to move out of the state of Michigan.

Former University President James Duderstadt appointed Nelms to the top job at Flint in September 1994. Nelms was the first choice of both Duderstadt and the faculty advising committee set up to assist in selecting the new chancellor.

Nelms "built a new spirit of cooperation with the community and transformed Flint into an urban university," Duderstadt said.

The change from being a university in an urban area to being an urban university that deals directly with the surrounding community was one of Nelms' main focuses.

He helped create the Center for University Outreach, which deals with the community's economic and social problems, and he acquired 25 acres from the failed AutoWorld to be used for the school.

Although Nelms is actively involved with the community, he said what he will miss most - the students - is unique to the university.

"With a campus this size, you know and interact with a lot of students," Nelms said. "I'll miss knowing the face I'm handing the diploma to."

There has not been a great deal of public speculation as to who will take Nelms' job. President Lee Bollinger will have the final decision regarding the appointment.

"I can only hope that our search for a new chancellor leads us to find a person of Chancellor Nelms' caliber," Bollinger said in a written statement. "I expect to announce plans for a search for Chancellor Nelms' successor in the near future."

Dan Haggerty, president of the Flint campus's Student Government Council, said Nelms' departure will be "a great loss."

Nelms regularly attended student council meetings and was actively involved in student government.

"Students could just walk into his office without an appointment," said Marc Lund, the Student Government Council's vice president. "At other universities I doubt that it is that easy."

Having an open and student-oriented campus has always been important to Nelms, Duderstadt said.

"I think a good example was on his first tour of the brand new campus he noticed there were no benches," Duderstadt said. "So one of the first things he did was to install places for people to gather. He turned the Flint fortress inside-out."

Some Flint students said they were surprised by the announcement, but others saw it coming even before Nelms made his final decision. Duderstadt said other universities have aggressively pursued Nelms.

Nelms said he thought about his decision for a while, but during the winter break he had time to reflect with his family. Their approval was a major part of the decision, Nelms said.

Many within the University community said they will miss having Nelms at the helm.

"I was very disappointed, but I certainly understand the demands of the job are quite strenuous," said Associate Vice President for University Relations Lisa Baker. "I will miss seeing him."

If the search process is conducted similarly to the search four years ago, there will be a faculty committee that will aid the president in choosing a chancellor.

Nelms will not be involved in the decision but he said, "I hope the next chancellor cares personally about students, education growth, and they need to be able to embrace the community."

01-22-98