ITHACA, N.Y. ― Ithaca College President Tom Rochon has announced retirement plans following several unsettled months that saw protests over the racial climate on campus and no confidence votes by staff and students.
Rochon says Thursday that he’ll retire at the end of the next academic year, on July 1, 2017.
In a letter to the college community, he says he’ll work over the next 18 months to make progress on issues of diversity and inclusion, as well as shared governance and decision-making.
Members of the Ithaca College faculty last month returned a vote of no confidence against Rochon following a similar vote by students in November.
The votes followed demonstrations like those seen at the University of Missouri and elsewhere, with students protesting the administration’s handling of several racially charged incidents.
