The 探花精选 Board of Trustees has announced that, in accordance with terms of President Robert H. Huntington鈥檚 2017-2021 employment agreement, his contract has been extended an additional year.
Board Chair Sondra G. Libman made the announcement following the Board鈥檚 fall meeting. Huntington was given a rolling contract designed to automatically turn into another five-year contract at the end of the first year and every year thereafter. As a result, his new contract has been extended to 2022. Libman said she looks forward to many more such extensions.
Over the past eight years, the Board has been pleased to experience Rob鈥檚 leadership in guiding Heidelberg on our shared path toward education excellence and student success. Steady progress continues as Heidelberg works to provide distinctive, value-added learning opportunities for all students.
Under Huntington鈥檚 leadership, Heidelberg has completed nine new construction and major renovation projects, with two more on the horizon. Additionally, the University has made great strides toward its $75 million goal in its Academic Comprehensive Campaign for Excellence (ACCE), a multi-level, multi-year initiative that is transforming the academic platform. Gifts to ACCE, the key piece of the university鈥檚 Strategic Action Plan, have surpassed $54 million. Over the life of ACCE and beyond, dollars raised are delivering critical academic resources to the campus.
More recently, Huntington has overseen the development and implementation of two new programs 鈥 the PlusOneAdvantage Free MBA and the co-curricular HYPE Program to guide all students toward career and life skills. Both programs distinguish Heidelberg among its peers as the University forges forward with its commitment to add value to every degree.
Libman noted that all stakeholders have had a role in Heidelberg鈥檚 success and progress over the past several years, and she credits stability at the highest level of leadership. 鈥淚t takes a commitment to collaboration among the Board, senior leadership and the entire Heidelberg community to help Heidelberg rise. Stability at the presidential level allows us to achieve our goals and build engaging personal relationships that lead to lifetime success for our graduates. We are all very optimistic about the future,鈥 she said.
Huntington began as Heidelberg鈥檚 14th president in July 2009. In their eighth year as residents of Tiffin and Seneca County, he and his family have established roots in the community. He is currently serving on the Board of Trustees of the Seneca Industrial and Economic Development Corp. and its Executive Committee. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Tiffin Community Foundation and a member of the Tiffin Rotary. In higher education, Huntington is a member of the Executive Committee for the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges (OFIC) and serves on the board. Also, as a board member, he is on the Executive Committee of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Ohio (AICUO). Nationally, Huntington serves as one of 18 college and university presidents on the NCAA Division III Presidents Council and represents the Ohio Athletic Conference on the NCAA Division III Presidents Advisory Group.
Since Huntington鈥檚 arrival, several critical academic initiatives have been implemented, including the AIM Hei Faculty-Student Mentoring Program and the university鈥檚 first three faculty endowed chairs in education, business and natural sciences. Faculty have introduced new majors in health sciences and self-designed studies, a new track in popular music, and a new pre-med program, with others on the horizon. Significant program changes have also enhanced the Owen Academic & Career Support Center and the study abroad program.