Case Western Reserve University’s embattled president, Edward M. Hundert, resigned on Wednesday, amid criticism from some faculty members that his poor work as a budgeter and fund raiser had created a $40-million hole in the university’s budget. The resignation followed by two weeks a no-confidence vote by Case Western’s College of Arts and Sciences (The Chronicle, March 3).

In a letter to everyone at Case Western, Dr. Hundert wrote that, even though he retained the Board of Trustees’ support, “I have reluctantly concluded that the continuing tension on campus is too distracting to the advancement of our university.”

In a news release, Case Western said the resignation would be effective on September 1, allowing the board time to select a successor.

In a written statement also issued by Case Western, the board chairman, Frank N. Linsalata, hailed Dr. Hundert for raising the institution’s aspirations to be among the nation’s top research universities, and said that the board had accepted his resignation “with reluctance and sadness.” He added that the trustees “did not ask for his resignation” and urged faculty critics to “turn their energies to working together to move the university forward.”

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