"Our over-arching goal at SUU has been to continue to build and strengthen the quality of this remarkable institution and to serve our students well," Bennion said. "It's important the students obtain something worthwhile when they leave."

During Bennion's tenure, SUU also started two new colleges — the College of Performing and Visual Arts, and the College of Computing, Engineering and Technology. The school now offers bachelor's degrees in integrated engineering and forensic science — the only two such degrees in the state.

"President Bennion has committed a lot to SUU in improving the educational training. He's made a great contribution to higher education as a whole," said Amanda Covington, director of communications for the Utah System of Higher Education.

Along with the successes, Bennion said his years at SUU were also punctuated by obstacles, such as lagging revenues to keep up with enrollment and inflation. Particularly after Sept. 11, 2001, Bennion said budgets got tight and tuition often suffered as a result. In 2003, SUU led the state in tuition hikes with an unprecedented 23 percent increase.

"We just had to tighten our belts and raise tuition dramatically. It was a huge challenge, and yet we made it through, and hopefully we're back to a period with some better state funding," he said.

Although Bennion said he does not yet know who will take the reins of the university after he leaves, he said he hoped his replacement would maintain the "niche personalized learning environment" at SUU.

Covington said the Board of Regents will form a search committee to narrow the candidates down to five top finalists to replace Bennion. A final decision likely will not come until the fall, she noted, and an interim president will stand in during the summer.

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