Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
OGDEN — Charles "Chuck" Wight announced Thursday that he plans to step down as president of Weber State University effective June 30 because he is a finalist in other university president searches.
Wight has led Weber State since 2013. He announced his plans to faculty and staff during the January meeting of the WSU Faculty Senate.
According to a university press release, Wight said he loves Weber State, but “the time has come to seek a new adventure."
“Because my candidacy at one of these universities may soon be public, I decided to tell you now, so you can hear it from me rather than from some other source,” Wight said.
He also said Thursday’s announcement will give the Utah State Board of Regents time to launch a search for his successor.
Wight's planned departure means the regents, who oversees state colleges and universities, will have yet another presidential search on their hands.
The next president of the University of Utah is expected to be named Thursday after a nine-month search.
A search is underway for a successor to Utah Valley University President Matthew Holland, who announced in November that he was stepping down to serve as a mission president for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was later announced he will serve in the North Carolina Raleigh Mission.
Wight, a former chemistry professor at the U., is known as WSU’s “scientist president” and has taught throughout his presidency.
On occasion, he conducted scientific demonstrations at WSU events, and he brought the chemistry-themed Faraday Lectures to the university.
Dan Campbell, regents chairman, said in a statement that Wight oversaw a fundraising campaign that brought in more than $125 million, broke ground on a new science center and other buildings, and helped keep Weber affordable to students.
“We wish him success as he starts this new chapter," Campbell said.
David Buhler, Utah's higher education commissioner, agreed. He said the board would assemble a panel for a national search "in the coming weeks," but did not give a timeline. An interim president was expected to be named sometime in spring.
In a message to campus, Wight called WSU a “special, even magical, place” and praised faculty and staff for being so committed to its educational mission.
“That mission is bigger than any one of us, but Weber State owes its success to each of you. Regardless of who leads this institution, I know you will continue to make Weber State great, great, great,” the statement said.
