KNOXVILLE - Jimmy Cheek's tenure as chancellor of the University of Tennessee's Knoxville campus is coming to an end, but he'll remain in the job until his successor is chosen.
The university on Tuesday morning announced Cheek's decision to step down and return to a faculty position. He has been UT's chancellor since 2009.
UT system President Joe DiPietro said the search for Cheek's replacement will begin shortly after the university's Board of Trustees meets later this week, and the hope is it will be concluded by next spring.
"Chancellor Cheek and I have had several conversations related to this decision over the past few months, and I am very appreciative of his leadership in moving our flagship campus through a seven-year period of unprecedented growth and forward momentum," DiPietro said in a statement.
"Leading a campus with thousands of employees, students and stakeholders is a demanding role that comes with numerous challenges, but it also has many rewards," he said. "Chancellor Cheek has served us well, and I am grateful for the energy and vision he has brought to the University of Tennessee and our Knoxville campus."
Cheek, a Texas native, earned his bachelor's and doctoral degrees from Texas A&M University and spent 34 years as a faculty member and administrator at the University of Florida before taking over UT's main campus.
In October, he received a 3 percent raise that increased his salary to $447,492, in addition to a retention bonus of $158,098 for his performance during a three-year period.
In a letter on UT's official website, Cheek expressed his gratitude for the opportunity he had to serve as the university's chancellor and called it "the best and most enjoyable job of my career."
Cheek set a goal of turning Tennessee into a top 25 national research university, and the campus has undergone a face-lift thanks to widespread construction and renovations of multiple buildings.
In the past year, however, Cheek came under fire for UT's Office for Diversity and Inclusion first encouraging students to use gender-neutral pronouns and then pushing to ensure holiday parties don't become "a Christmas party in disguise."
State legislators called for Cheek's resignation after the latter controversy and later diverted nearly $450,000 of state funding headed for that office.
Tennessee also is facing a Title IX federal lawsuit filed in February that alleges the university created a "hostile sexual environment" and violated federal law in its handling of sexual assault complaints against student-athletes, particularly football players.
Cheek indicated in his letter he was proud of what UT accomplished under his watch.
"We have attracted stellar faculty and staff, improved the campus infrastructure, boosted private fundraising, strengthened recognition of UT, and secured additional resources," he wrote.
"Our athletics department is stronger financially. Our student-athletes are making great progress in the classroom with the highest grades ever while also training to be champions.
"We have increased enrollment while still attracting the best and brightest students. Our graduation rates have shown exceptional growth and our retention rates are moving up as well."
"Serving as your chancellor has truly been the capstone of my career," Cheek wrote.
One potential replacement is current East Tennessee State President Dr. Brian Noland, who earned his Ph.D. in political science from Tennessee and later served as associate executive director for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.
Contact staff writer Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.