SU president heads state organization

Dr. Bill Ruud, president of Shippensburg University, recently conducted his first meeting as chair of the board of the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU).

"The Commonwealth has a long tradition of offering the opportunity for higher education through its many outstanding colleges and universities," Ruud said. "I'm proud to be able to serve an organization whose main goal is to ensure that these institutions continue their service to the citizens of Pennsylvania  PACU knows that the future success of our state will require higher education to be in a leadership role and we will be working in partnership with Pennsylvanians to achieve that success." 

PACU was founded in 1896 and is the nation's oldest state-based organization devoted to higher education. It is a voluntary association of 85 institutions from all sectors of the Pennsylvania higher education community.

PACU serves the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by promoting higher education. It fosters dialogue among the institutions of higher learning, collects and disseminates information about higher education, enhances the understanding and image of higher education and when practicable advances collective positions relating to higher education.

Ruud is finishing his third year of service as the 15th president of Shippensburg University. Throughout a career of more than 30 years,  he has been a leader at several colleges and universities, and has used that experience and knowledge to lead Shippensburg on a path to academic excellence and achievement, and an enhanced role in the region.

Since his presidency began, the university has had many accomplishments, including the recent 10-year re-accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. In addition, the university's enrollment has increased and this year set a record with 8,253 undergraduate and graduate students, incoming students' SAT scores increased this year and the university continues to have the highest graduation rate in the State System. In addition, he serves on various local and national boards including the American Council on Education's Commission on Effective Leadership.