By Dick Mason

Observer Staff Writer

Eastern Oregon University President Phil Creighton will soon step down to take the reins of Pacific University in Forest Grove.

Creighton announced Tuesday that he will resign as EOU president effective July 31. He said he could not confirm until afternoon where he was going, but The Observer has learned that Creighton will become president of Pacific. The university was expected to make an official announcement at noon today.

Creighton and his wife, Leigh, came to La Grande from Maryland in 1998.

"This has been a difficult decision for Leigh and me,'' Creighton said. "But we feel that this is the right time for us to pursue new opportunities. EOU has a bright and promising future, and now is the occasion for a new president to lead this university into the next phase of development.''

Creighton has served as EOU's president since July 1998.

"I am proud of my association with the university and have treasured my relationships with the community,'' Creighton said. "I am very grateful for all the benefits I have been given. It (deciding to leave) was a very hard decision.''

Oregon University System chancellor Richard Jarvis will visit EOU next week to discuss the transition process that lies ahead for Eastern and the search for a new president.

One of Creighton's top accomplishments is the work that has been done on EOU's Science Center project. The Science Center will feature a new 67,000-square-foot building to be complete by late June. The final phase of the project will involve the renovation of Badgley Hall, EOU's current science building. The renovation of Badgley Hall will be completed by next summer.

The construction of the Science Center ties in with Creighton's focus on expanding EOU and boosting its enrollment. He has succeeded on both counts.

According to fourth-week fall term figures, EOU's enrollment was up 15.9 percent from the previous academic year. This was the second highest jump in the Oregon university system.

Eastern's ranking was based on a head count of 3,452 students on campus.

Eastern's enrollment growth came on the heels of jumps of 6.61 percent in 1999, 6.63 percent in 2000 and 6.97 percent in 2001.

Eastern is nearing Creighton's goal of growing to a level of 3,500 to 4,200 students. Creighton established this objective soon after becoming EOU's president.

During Creighton's tenure, undergraduate degrees in computer science-multi media, gender studies, biochemistry and media arts have been added. A masters degree in business administration was added.

Creighton came to EOU from Salisbury State University in Salisbury, Md., where he was the school's provost and vice president of academic affairs the last three years he was there.

Creighton noted that one of the philosophies he has followed all of his life involves the issue of stewardship. He said that his parents always emphasized the importance of of leaving things in better condition than he found them.

"I hope I have done that (at EOU),'' he said.