Dixie State president steps down

ST. GEORGE — Dixie State College President Lee Caldwell abruptly resigned his position on Thursday giving no reason for the decision. The move was effective immediately. Caldwell did not respond on Thursday to messages left at his home and on his cell phone.

The personnel matters were discussed in a closed meeting Thursday at the state Regents' office in Salt Lake City. Shortly after, Regent Chairman Jed H. Pitcher introduced former Weber State University president Stephen D. Nadauld as interim president of Dixie State College.

"We appreciate President Caldwell's dedicated service," Pitcher said. "We wish him well."

Nadauld had been interviewed for the job in February and is expected to begin his new position at Dixie State College today.

Caldwell's resignation came only days after the regents met on the Dixie State College campus for a regular board meeting and were hosted by the college president.

While no mention was made then of the coming change in DSC's administration, several observers said there were signs that something was up.

"There have been rumblings for the past few months," said Rep. Stephen Urquhart, R-St. George, who serves as a member of the legislative higher education task force. "I can guarantee that the community will freak out because of this. It is huge news to the community."

Caldwell is the second Utah college president to announce his resignation this week. Monday, College of Eastern Utah President Ryan L. Thomas said he will leave at the end of the school year to pursue other opportunities.

In a news release announcing his resignation, Caldwell said he was leaving behind an inspiring institution with a strong foundation of local sacrifice and contributions.

"I feel like I came in and built on a foundation of that work commitment we call the 'Dixie Spirit,' which is we don't make excuses, roll up your sleeves and do it well, and have an entrepreneurial spirit," Caldwell said in the release. "What we've been able to add to that is a focus on national and international benchmarking and quality."

Several insiders who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the regents forced Caldwell to resign or face being fired, even though Caldwell recently passed a yearly evaluation.

Speculation is rampant that Caldwell raised the regents' ire because of his insistence that Dixie investigate an affiliation proposal with the University of Utah or his aggressive "style" in pushing Dixie's agenda forward.

"I don't think this had anything to do with the affiliation idea," Urquhart said. "But I want to tell everyone that we're moving forward and no one is going to get in the way of this proposal."