He's overseen a decade of unprecedented growth and presided over an educational transformation that has repositioned the University of Lethbridge as a leading research and graduate studies institution. On Thursday afternoon, U of L President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Bill Cade, announced he would be stepping aside at the completion of his second term, June 30, 2010.

"Elsa and I have made this decision after much consideration," says Cade, referring to his wife. "We believe that our time as the presidential couple has been the most satisfying experience of our professional lives. It has been a great honour for us to work with all of you to advance our University."

Cade was appointed President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lethbridge in July 2000. Currently serving his second five-year term, he has overseen the development of many significant initiatives at the U of L, including two five-year strategic plans and the successful completion of the institution's largest capital campaign.

During his tenure, student enrolment grew by 50 per cent and today approximately 8,000 students from around the world call the U of L's campuses in Lethbridge, Calgary and Edmonton home. He also saw the University evolve from a primarily undergraduate university to a leading comprehensive academic and research institution with corresponding growth in graduate programming, enrolment and external research funding (which increased by a phenomenal 610 per cent).

While the growth numbers are staggering, Cade endeavoured to keep the University grounded in its principles. His personal style reflected well the University's roots as an institution grounded in liberal education and committed to providing its students with smaller classes and a personal learning experience.

"The best part of my job has been the people," Cade says. "The people who make up the University are intensely proud of their University and what they and others have contributed to it. And similarly, the people of Lethbridge are intensely proud of their University. This sense of pride that people have in the University of Lethbridge is something that I get enormous satisfaction from."

Since his arrival in 2000, the U of L completed, initiated, constructed or planned about $200 million in capital projects and improvements. These include the Library Information Network Centre (LINC) and the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN) (projects started under the leadership of former president Dr. Howard Tennant), the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness, the Parkway Services Complex, the renovation and expansion of Turcotte Hall and the Alberta Water and Environmental Science Building, which opened this past November.

Currently three more projects are under construction and set to open in 2009/2010, including the Regional Sports Stadium and Field Complex, a campus daycare and Markin Hall – a new home for the faculties of Management and Health Sciences.

"Throughout his presidency, Dr. Cade has proudly served as the University's chief ambassador and cheerleader, and has built and strengthened community relations at local, provincial, national and international levels," says University of Lethbridge Board of Governors Chair Robert Turner. "During Dr. Cade's tenure, the U of L has seen an unprecedented amount of community support in the forms of fundraising and community engagement. On behalf of the University of Lethbridge Board of Governors, I would like to thank Bill and Elsa for their decade of dedication and commitment to this institution."

To view a personal letter from Dr. Cade to the University community, click on the following link: www.uleth.ca/notice/display.html?b=300&s=11846