Dr. Robert E. Hawkins today announced that he has resigned from the position of president and vice-chancellor of the University of Regina effective immediately.

Hawkins said, “In view of differences of opinion on management philosophy and other issues, I have decided to resign as president of the University. I remain a professor at the University and look forward to serving the University and its students in that capacity in the future.”

“The Board of Governors appreciates the keen interest that Dr. Hawkins has shown in his emphasis on providing a quality student experience and his drive to develop programs that will appeal to the students we need to recruit,” said chair of the University’s Board of Governors, Mo Bundon. “We need to be onside with each other, and we have agreed that a change is an appropriate move.”

Hawkins has served as president of the University of Regina since September 2005.

To ensure no disruptions to the educational experience of the University’s some 12,000 students and to the operations of the institution, the board has assigned interim presidential duties to Allan Cahoon for the next six weeks, and will appoint an acting president in the New Year for the duration of a national search.

Cahoon is vice-president (research and international) and has been with the University of Regina since 2002, leading a growing research-rich program and fostering internationalization of the institution.