October 19, 2005
Minnaert to retire from South Puget Sound Community College
OLYMPIA - After 30 years of service, 25 years as president, South Puget Sound Community College President Kenneth J. Minnaert has announced his plans to retire from the Olympia college at the end of the academic year. Minnaert's retirement will be effective June 30, 2006.
Minnaert, who is currently the longest serving higher education president in Washington state, came to South Puget Sound in 1975 as Director of Instruction. He was named president of the institution in 1980 and soon after led the college's transformation from the state's only technical community college to a comprehensive community college offering transfer degrees.
Under Minnaert's stewardship, the college also greatly expanded its reach and physical presence. In 1975, the campus facilities consisted of portable buildings and trailers on a mere 56 acres. Today the college sits on 101 acres. In July, it removed is last portable structure, and in September it opened its signature building, the Center for the Arts.
In 1995, the college opened its Hawks Prairie Center in Lacey, and, in the next decade, officials expect to open a permanent second campus in North Thurston County. South Puget Sound also maintains sister-college relationships in four countries: New Zealand, Mexico, Ireland, and China.
"Serving as president of this college has provided great personal rewards, the greatest of which is the sense of accomplishment and satisfaction in helping students reach their dreams and achieve their goals," Minnaert said. "I have enjoyed the support of first-class student leaders, faculty, staff, administration, Board of Trustees and Foundation board members. I am proud of the progress the college has made and pleased that I have been able to play a role in that progress. I am very grateful for the generosity and support the community has given to the college and myself. Whatever has been accomplished at the college over the last 30 years has been the result of this team effort."
South Puget Sound Community College serves more than 12,000 headcount students a year. In 1980, when Minnaert became president, the college offered courses in 13 technical programs. Today, the college offers more than 30 technical programs, as well as Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, and Associate in Business degrees.
"Dr. Minnaert's vision, leadership and innovation have remained consistent throughout his service at South Puget Sound Community College," said Leonor R. Fuller, chair of the college's Board of Trustees. "One only needs to look at the recent milestones reached this year: the completion of the Center for the Arts, the acquisition of land in the Hawks Prairie area, and the new partnership with our two local hospitals to expand our nursing program. These accomplishments speak to Dr. Minnaert's steadfast commitment to the college's mission and to his successful outreach to the Legislature and the community."
"While the Board of Trustees is sad to lose someone with Dr. Minnaert's institutional history, the Board recognizes that his leadership has set into motion the continuing success of the college and its programs. For this we will be forever grateful."
The college's Board of Trustees plans to engage a presidential search firm to assist them in conducting a national search for Minnaert's successor. After a thorough, open and inclusive search and screening process, the Board anticipates the new president of South Puget Sound Community College to be in place on July 1, 2006.