Slippery Rock — Slippery Rock University President Robert Smith this afternoon announced he will retire effective January 2012.

Smith, who was named interim president in 2002 and president in 2004, made the announcement at the annual Academic Assembly.

He said he was making his decision public to allow for a presidential search committee to be appointed before the end of this semester.

“Much work needs to be done to ensure a smooth leadership transition and have someone in place upon my departure,” he said.

The issue of retirement is something he and his wife, Ramona, have talked about for some time, Smith said.

“But I deliberately extended my intent to retire in order for us to achieve three immediate goals important to our university: (1) Stabilize the current budget crisis so that Slippery Rock University remains on solid ground; (2) Assist in reaching a successful contract agreement with our collective bargaining groups; and (3) Help prepare the university to be an attractive place for the very best qualified candidates for this presidency.”

During his tenure, SRU has undergone significant change, including $200 million in construction and renovation projects, and more than a dozen new academic program accreditations.

SRU is projected to achieve its highest total enrollment of 9,000 this coming fall, a 29 percent increase from its 2000-01 enrollment of 6,952.

During that same period, the average SAT score for an entering freshman rose more than 80 points.

An active volunteer, he serves on the board of trustees for Butler County Community College, Butler Health Systems board of directors, Leadership Pittsburgh, the Community Development Corporation of Butler County, past president of the Butler Rotary Club, and a member of Slippery Rock Development.