University Chancellor Michael Martin has accepted the position as chancellor of the Colorado State University system.
Martin said he is looking to begin his new position in early August of this year.
The details of the contract have not been finalized, but Kyle Henley, CSU Denver Director of Public Relations said they are anticipating a 5 year contract with a base salary of $375,000.
Martin’s current salary at LSU is $400,000, according to The Daily Reveille’s salary database.
Martin said budget cuts have indirectly influenced his decision to take the position at CSU.
“I think all of us across higher education are a little worn out by budget cuts,” Martin said. “While I didn’t go looking for another job because of the budget cuts, I think jobs came looking for me.”
The Board of Governors named Martin on May 9 as the only finalist for the position, and voted unanimously Friday to appoint Martin as the next chancellor of the CSU system. The board also approved details of the proposed contract, which will be finalized in the coming days.
The CSU System includes three campuses in Fort Collins, CSU-Pueblo and the online-only CSU-Global Campus.
Martin said he received “enormously gratifying and humbling expressions” to keep him at LSU, but the new position attracted him away from the uncertainty of the University.
Martin said he is not running away from the difficulties LSU is facing, but a combination of the new provost and new board members have led him to believe CSU is a better option.
“It will be a chance to test myself in a very interesting and exciting environment, to see if I can lead a system,” he said.
The Board of Governors Chair Joe Zimlich said the board believes Martin has proven to be a visionary higher education leader and an advocate for the land grant system, and the board appointed him as an investment for the CSU system.
Martin released a farewell email through University Relations, saying he is ready for new opportunities and he will work for adequate funding for the University until he begins his new position.
