Carpenter to retire as NSCS Chancellor

Today, the NSCS Board of Trustees met to discuss next steps in the process to hire the next Chancellor. The board created a search committee and gave approval to hire a search firm to assist the Board in a national search. The search process will start in the next few weeks.

“The Board is honored to have had Chancellor Carpenter as the visionary leader of the Nebraska State College System for the past eighteen years,” said Gary Bieganski, Chair of the NSCS Board of Trustees. “He has been a tireless advocate of affordable, high-quality education for our open enrollment institutions. With his leadership, he keeps the dream of college alive and within reach for both traditional and non-traditional students.”

Carpenter came to NSCS in 2000, from the Vermont State College System, where he served as General Counsel and Director of Employee Relations. He was named Executive Director of the Nebraska State Colleges, but the title was changed in 2005 to reflect that the three institutions of higher learning were no longer a loose coalition, but instead operated as one system ultimately reporting to the Chancellor.

During Carpenter’s tenure as the Chancellor of NSCS, the list of accomplishments and achievements for Chadron, Peru, and Wayne State College is extensive.

• A strong advocate of the important role that Chadron, Peru and Wayne State Colleges play in rural Nebraska and how the future vitality of rural Nebraska depends, in large part, on the success of the Nebraska State College System as colleges of opportunity.
• Guided the NSCS and the colleges through three severe economic downturns that dramatically affected Nebraska State College System budget. Chancellor Carpenter provided strong leadership for the college presidents as they worked through the process of managing diminished funds while maintaining quality, affordable programs.
• Improved collaboration on educational programs, common interests, compliance, management and policy issues by forming the Council of Presidents, and other system councils related to academics, students, and finance.
• Guided the growth of the state colleges’ academic programming, which currently includes 200 undergraduate and 17 graduate degree options.
• Oversaw the creation of the Master’s degree in Organizational Management, a degree that has courses available at each of the Colleges.

Presided over $182 million in capital investments to the three state colleges including:

• Renovation of Bowen and Pile Residence Halls at WSC;
• Construction of the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center at CSC;
• Renovation and reconstruction of the Oak Bowl Football Stadium at PSC;
• Renovation of the U.S. Conn Library at WSC;
• Renovation of Old Admin and Edna Work Hall and Wing at CSC;
• Renovation of Delzell Residence Hall at PSC;
• Construction of the Rangeland Complex and Chicoine Center at CSC;
• Renovation and construction of Elliott Field and the Con Marshall Press Box as part of the CSC’s Sports Complex Initiative, with completion scheduled for Fall, 2018;
• Renovation and addition to the Theatre/Event Center at PSC; and
• Construction of WSC’s Center for Applied Technology, a $15.2-million state-of-the-art facility to address workforce and economic development, with completion scheduled for Fall, 2018.
• Guided the State Colleges through critical presidential transitions: CSC – President Tom Krepel (1999-2004), President Janie Park (2005-2012), President Randy Rhine (2012-present), PSC – President Ben Johnson (1999-2008), President Dan Hanson (2009-present), and WSC – President Shelia Stearns (1999-2004), President Richard J. Collings (2004-2009), President Curt D. Frye (2009-2015), and President Marysz Rames (2015-present).
• Witnessed CSC and WSC celebrate their centennials and PSC celebrate its sesquicentennial. 
• Reduced undergraduate tuition for out-of-state students through non-resident tuition programs.

Quote from Dr. Randy Rhine, President of Chadron State College

“Chancellor Carpenter has always made decisions in the best interest of students and their access to education and has worked to keep that education affordable. His support was instrumental in securing funding for campus projects, including the Rangeland Complex, Chicoine Center and most recently the Sports Complex. He has been supportive of the Math Science addition and renovation project and has repeatedly affirmed that project’s position as the top priority capital project for the Nebraska State College System.

I have enjoyed working with Stan. He has had a significant impact on the development of the Nebraska State College System. The System Office and State Colleges have made tremendous progress during his tenure, and I wish him the best in his retirement.”

Quote from Dr. Hanson, President of Peru State College

“Stan has been a strong and effective advocate for the students of the Nebraska State College System. Peru State College has benefitted tremendously from his fiscal leadership and vision for higher education in Nebraska.  His guidance has led to more than $75 million in renovations including every academic building, the Al Wheeler Activity Center, the Oak Bowl, the Administration Building, two residence halls (Morgan Hall and Delzell Hall) and the entrance to campus. We are also pleased to claim him as our own President, in 2008-2009, where he led the charge to create the One Rate, Any State tuition policy for out-of-state students.”

Quote from Dr. Marysz Rames, President of Wayne State College

“Chancellor Carpenter has served as a visionary and innovative leader for the State College System.  He has been instrumental in securing state funds to support Wayne State’s complete renovation of Conn Library, Carhart Science Building, and the construction of the Center for Applied Technology, a new state-of-the-art facility committed to advancing Industrial technology in the state.  Additionally, he has steered the College through difficult financial challenges by eloquently reinforcing the vital role that Wayne State plays for the state of Nebraska.  In every decision he has made, his focus has been on providing students with an affordable, accessible, and quality education.  Chancellor Carpenter is a passionate, dedicated leader and a fierce advocate for higher education; he will be greatly missed.”