The president of Harrisburg University suddenly resigns

Harrisburg University of Science and Technology President Eric Durr announced his resignation Friday afternoon statement from the university, which did not provide any details about the decision.

“On behalf of the board of trustees, I would like to thank Dr. Darr for his work on behalf of our students,” board chairman Mark Singel said in a statement posted on the website.

Darr has served at the institution since its founding in Pennsylvania in 2001, first as vice president for finance and administration and then as provost before becoming president in 2013.

The head of the board noted his role in promoting the development of the university.

“In 2005, University College opened its doors to just 113 students,” Singel said in a statement. “Today, there are more than 600 employees who serve about 6,500 undergraduate and graduate students.”

The vast majority of Harrisburg’s graduate students are distance learning, according to Penn Liveand the university has faced large budget deficits in each of the last two fiscal years: $8.4 million in 2022-2023 and $6.4 million in 2023-2024.

Harrisburg earlier this year closed its international campuses in Panama and Dubai.

David Shankweiler, who served as the university’s first board chairman for a decade, has been named interim president while officials begin a national search for the next leader.

“We certainly have some challenges ahead of us, but we are already working hard to address them,” Shankweiler said in a statement. “Our next president will continue the tremendous progress we have made at HU since those first introductory meetings more than a quarter century ago.”