Message from President Barchi

July 23, 2019

Dear Members of the Rutgers Community:

Last summer, at the completion of my first six years as Rutgers president, I accepted an invitation from the Board of Governors to extend my time in office for an additional two years. Today, I officially confirmed to the Board of Governors my intention to step down from the presidency at the conclusion of that two-year period, which will be June 30, 2020.

Serving as your president is a tremendous honor. It has been my privilege and pleasure to lead this community during the past seven years, and this will continue to be the case during my eighth and final year. I could not be more grateful to the entire Rutgers community for all that we have accomplished together since 2012. We have charted a vision for the university’s future, increased the academic strength, diversity, and quality of our student body, improved the student experience, attracted new cadres of world-class faculty, established a strong and growing health sciences presence, and changed the culture of philanthropy for this institution. We are not the same old Rutgers; we are now recognized as a national research and academic powerhouse that each day improves lives in New Jersey and around the world.

A great university is one that builds on its strengths and past accomplishments and that responds nimbly to opportunities and challenges in a rapidly changing academic and political environment. During the coming year, my leadership team and I will remain fully engaged in working with you and for you on the tasks we face today and the opportunities that will appear tomorrow.

I look forward to your continued support during the coming year, and I will lend whatever assistance I can in seeking the next president of this great institution.

Sincerely,

Robert Barchi