Edinboro President, Who Boasted of His Ability to Circumvent Faculty Resistance, Will Resign

H. Fred Walker, whose recent intemperate remarks to The Chronicle about faculty members and a student led to widespread calls for his ouster as president of Edinboro University, will resign, effective Friday, the chancellor of Pennsylvania’s state system announced Tuesday evening.

“We thank Dr. Walker for his service to Edinboro University over the past two years,” the system’s interim chancellor, Karen M. Whitney, said in a news release. “I respect his decision and wish him well.” The release did not give a reason for Walker’s departure.

In the March 18 Chronicle article, Walker openly discussed his plans to compel faculty members to acquiesce to his plans for program cuts. “I knew I would never be able to reason with the faculty,” he said.

Walker also told The Chronicle that a student who had petitioned to save the music major from being cut didn’t actually oppose the move, but rather was grieving a death in his family and needed a distraction. The student, Dylan C. Hollingsworth, responded that he was aghast at the suggestion.

The article set off a tumult at the Pennsylvania college. Professors and students condemned Walker’s comments, and late last week faculty members sent a confidential letter to the governing board saying Walker had “irretrievably lost his ability to lead.”

Jack Stripling covers college leadership, particularly presidents and governing boards. Follow him on Twitter @jackstripling, or email him at jack.stripling@chronicle.com. Andy Thomason oversees breaking-news coverage. Send him a tip at andy.thomason@chronicle.com. And follow him on Twitter @arthomason.