Richard "Ric" Porreca, executive director of budget, planning and analysis at the University of Colorado at Â鶹¹ÙÍø, announced today he has accepted the position of associate vice chancellor for resource management and planning at the University of California, Davis.
His appointment is effective Aug. 1.
Porreca has been head of CU-Â鶹¹ÙÍø's Office of Budget, Planning and Analysis since July 1994. Prior to that time he served in a number of posts at CU-Â鶹¹ÙÍø and for the University of Colorado system administration.
"This is a fantastic offer for Ric, one which offers him a substantial promotion and a great opportunity for new challenges and advancement," said Richard L. Byyny, chancellor. "We are sorry to lose him from our CU-Â鶹¹ÙÍø team, but he leaves a legacy of accomplishment that will serve us well into the future."
Porreca said he would "miss the people I have been so fortunate to work with over the years" at CU-Â鶹¹ÙÍø. "Deciding to leave this community was certainly the most difficult decision Joyce and I have faced together" in part because of relationships forged at CU, he said. "Throughout some very difficult projects, I'm most proud that I've been able to maintain people's trust and develop many friendships along the way."
Porreca, who has worked on the Â鶹¹ÙÍø campus since 1982, has been instrumental in several key initiatives during his tenure.
Most recently he developed the guaranteed tuition concept, which has been referred to the state Legislature and the Colorado Commission on Higher Education for review. The plan would give incoming freshmen a set tuition rate for five years to stabilize financial planning for students and their parents.
He was the principal planner in the development of the CU-Â鶹¹ÙÍø Research Park, launched in 1987, now home to 14 private companies including U S West Advanced Technologies. He also worked on much of the planning for the conversion of the campus heating plant to a cogeneration system in 1986.
Porreca helped to create the office of employee development in the early 1980s, consolidated the campus payroll and benefits functions and created a campus planning office.
CU's purchase of the Flatiron Property on the south side of Â鶹¹ÙÍø in 1996 was another project in which Porreca played a key role.
Byyny said Porreca has played an important role in CU's implementation of the Total Learning Environment initiative and the Integrated Resource Management Strategy.
Prior to his current position, Porreca was assistant vice president for budget and finance and director of university budgets from January 1993 to June 1994, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs from July 1990 to June 1993, assistant to the vice chancellor for administration from July 1986 to July 1990, director of benefits in 1988-89, and senior policy advisor and budget manager for the vice chancellor for administration from 1983 to 1986.
He worked as a student administrator for the vice chancellor for administration in 1982-83.
Porreca earned his bachelor's degree in English from North Adams State College in Massachusetts and is completing a master's degree in public policy analysis from CU-Â鶹¹ÙÍø.
Byyny said he will review options for an interim appointment for Porreca's position this spring.