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By Elizabeth RuizThe president of Our Lady of the Lake University is leaving after 10 years at the helm.
Roy Terracina, chairman of the OLLU board, said," Dr. Pollack has helped guide the university through a time of great change, and her many contributions are appreciated by the board and the university family."
The announcement comes amid a controversy over Pollack's decision to eliminate 12 degree majors, including Mexican American studies and religious studies.
"Those programs that are being phased out are majors. The programs remain, but the majors are going away because they've had very low enrollments for years," said Dan Yoxall, Vice President for University Advancement.
The last two people to graduate with a major in Mexican American studies did so in 2008. Will the dozen eliminated majors be reinstated?
"If we can demonstrate that we have increased enrollment in the kind of curriculum that will attract more students, there's always that possibility, Yoxall told 550 KTSA News.
Dr. Pollack has been president of Our Lady of the Lake since 2002, during which time retention rates and graduation rates have increased.
"We have new programs, we're growing, we're graduating more students, and we're retaining more students. The future is bright for Our Lady of the Lake," said Yoxall.
In January, OLLU's accreditation was reaffirmed by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools for another 10 years. The university opened a new campus in The Woodlands near Houston last year.
Dr. Pollack led the campus through a difficult time when the Main Building burned down in 2008. She helped raise millions of dollars for the renovation and the facility won an Honor Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
"With Tessa's leadership, a new strategic plan was developed and the board fully intends to follow it as we go forward," said Terracina.
There's been no announcement concerning an interim president.
Terracina said," OLLU is a unique institution in many ways, and we will now begin a search for a new president who can step in and help the Unviersity move forward in this ever-changing and challenging environment."
