Dive Brief:
- Howard University President Sidney A. Ribeau announced Tuesday that he would retire at the end of December.
- The announcement followed a three-day Board of Trustees meeting, last month's credit rating downgrade and a U.S. News ranking drop of 22 spots, as well as last year's 5% decline in enrollment.
- Ribeau recently signed a contract extension through June 2015, but says he wasn't forced to step down.
Dive Insight:
Despite the developments that preceded Ribeau's retirement, some on the prominent historically black university's campus were still surprised. Still, faculty and students took the change of leadership as a positive sign for the university, which has been undergoing a reorganization following a public rift over finances and management. Provost Wayne A.I. Frederick will serve as interim president.