Harvey Perlman, chancellor of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, announced on Wednesday that he would step down next year, after 15 years on the job, “for a variety of reasons, both personal and professional,” he wrote in a message to the campus.
“It is apparent that my age, longevity in this office, and the uncertainty of my continuing tenure creates challenges for the recruitment of high-level administrators,” wrote Mr. Perlman, who is 73. “I also believe UNL could benefit from an infusion of new ideas and new energy.”
In a news release, the university credited him with presiding over Lincoln’s admission to the Big Ten Conference, the creation of a research campus, growth in enrollment, and an increase in research expenditures.
But Mr. Perlman has also endured controversy. Most recently, in 2011, the Association of American Universities discontinued Nebraska’s membership, citing its low research spending. He called the association’s metrics flawed, arguing that the university’s research stature had not been taken into account because the medical school is part of the statewide system rather than the flagship campus.
