Harvard University president Neil L. Rudenstine announced yesterday he will conclude his tenure at the end of the next academic year -- ten years after he first assumed the post.
During his presidency, Rudenstine led a highly successful fund-raising campaign for the university, encouraging collaboration among Harvard's various faculties and schools.
"The time seems right," Rudenstine said of his decision in a statement.
"With the [capital] campaign behind us and new opportunities on the horizon, it will be important to revive the university-wide academic planning process and to take a fresh look at future priorities."
Rudenstine took a leave of absence due to physical exhaustion in 1995 after running the capital campaign.
The heavy toll the job takes is often cited by college presidents, including Dartmouth's own James Freedman, who stepped down in 1998 after 11 years at the helm of the College.
Freedman said the job took much time away from both his personal and academic life.
Currently, on the average, college presidents in the Ivy League spend about 10 years in office. Terms were often much longer in the past, with some over 30 years long.
This is the second Ivy presidential resignation this year.
In February, Gordon Gee shocked the Ivy League and the academic community by stepping down from the head of Brown University after only two years in that position to become chancellor of Vanderbilt University.
