Henderson State Chancellor Chuck Ambrose will depart in September

Education

by Paul Gatling ([email protected]) July 31, 2023 2:11 pm 788 views 

Henderson State University Chancellor Chuck Ambrose will step down, effective Sept. 15. The school announced details Monday (July 31).

“I am grateful for Dr. Ambrose’s leadership and the work by everyone on campus during the past two years to position Henderson for success now and into the future,” Arkansas State University System President Chuck Welch said in a statement. “We have great leadership on campus as we move toward the beginning of the fall semester and look forward to welcoming students in a few weeks.”

Ambrose joined Henderson as chancellor in November 2021. Earlier that year, Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed Act 18 of the 93rd General Assembly of Arkansas, officially making HSU in Arkadelphia the seventh Arkansas State University System institution.

Ambrose implemented significant changes during his tenure. The academic program was restructured into four learning communities, and the university’s mission and resources were realigned to prioritize student success and learning outcomes.

HSU’s previous full-time campus leader, President Glen Jones, resigned in July 2019, just days after HSU faculty members voted no confidence in Jones and called on the institution’s governing board to relieve him, citing his alleged financial mismanagement and lack of transparency.

Under Ambrose’s leadership, according to Monday’s news release, Henderson’s financial situation improved significantly, increasing from seven days of cash on hand in 2019 to 50 days in 2022.

Ambrose expressed his commitment to addressing challenges, providing a sustainable model focused on student success, and utilizing transparent data for decision-making. The university also focused on access and affordability for students and reallocated resources to offer degrees aligned with community and future workforce needs.

This past December, Welch praised Henderson State leadership and the financial teams at the ASU System and Arkansas State for their assistance in completing the audit and “righting the ship.”

A search process for a new chancellor will begin soon. According to a report at arkadelphian.com, Henderson State had 2,536 students last fall and 2,219 students this past spring.