OLDS — Olds College president Stuart Cullum is moving up Highway 2 to become president of Red Deer Polytechnic, starting at the end of July.
Olds College made that announcement in a news release Wednesday.
Cullum joined Olds College in 2016 and was appointed its 13th president in July 2017. He begins his new job Aug. 2, becoming Red Deer Polytechnic's 12th president.
“During his five-year tenure as president, Stuart led Olds College through unprecedented growth and development by strengthening the college’s engagement with internal and external stakeholders and elevating Olds College’s profile as a national post-secondary and applied research leader in agriculture and technology,” a statement from the college issued today says.
An Red Deer Polytechnic news release on the change was equally glowing.
"With a proven record as a collaborative and innovative post-secondary leader, Cullum was selected by the board to guide Red Deer Polytechnic on its path forward as a polytechnic institution, serving learners, industry and communities with a growing breadth of credentials and programs that meet central Alberta’s needs," it said.
“My time with Olds College has been exciting, challenging and rewarding,” Cullum said in the release.
“Together, our college community has grown our programming, enrolment, applied research, land base, partnerships, donations, investments, and without question, our impact.
“We have set the bar for what it means to be a focused, industry relevant post-secondary institution and have established an ecosystem for Alberta’s agriculture industry to advance and lead – like no other in Canada in my opinion.”
Olds College board of governors chair Leona Staples thanked Cullum for his leadership.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank Stuart for his leadership over the past six years,” she said.
“Under his presidency, Olds College has grown and solidified its identity and place within the post-secondary system and the broader agriculture sector. Producers, businesses, and most importantly, our students, have benefited from his innovative and tireless leadership.
"Please join me in congratulating Stuart as he accepts this exciting next step on his leadership journey.”
Staples said more information will be provided “in the coming weeks as we launch the search for the 14th president of Olds College.”
The college listed some of the achievements attained during Stuart’s tenure including:
• launching the Olds College Strategic Plan: Growing 2025;
• a 12 per cent increase in enrolment including a doubling of international enrolment;
• implementation of the college’s first Indigenous Relationship Building Strategy and Action Plan;
• creation of the Olds College Smart Farm that included doubling of the College’s land base to 3,600 acres;
• establishing the Werklund School of Agriculture Technology and the creation of the College’s inaugural ag-tech credentials;
• facilitating hundreds of partnerships and donor relationships that resulted in more than $95 million in new revenue and investments with industry, government and the giving public;
• generating more than $30 million in applied research funding and increased annual applied research funding by more than 300 per cent;
• implementing the Campus Master Plan and initiated more than $35 million in new facility construction, including the Smart Ag Innovation Centre, Animal Health Education Centre, Ag Tech Learning Hub, and Smart Farm Operations Centre (farm shop); and
• championed and supported the creation of the Olds College Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
