Broward College president to retire

David Armstrong plans to retire as president of Broward College, after a decade marked by expansion, national accolades and friction among faculty.

Armstrong, 60, told the Broward College board of trustees on Tuesday he plans to stay until June 30 to allow enough time to conduct a national search for a replacement.

“My decision to step away was not easy, but I feel confident that, with all the organization has achieved, the timing is right,” Armstrong said. “We have an executive leadership team who will help the next president continue to build on the college’s commitment to student success and achievement.”

Armstrong was chancellor of the state’s community college system when Broward College hired him in 2007 to replace Larry Calderon, who abruptly resigned after disagreements with the Board of Trustees.

The college was offering mostly twoyear degrees and certificates at that time, but decided to delve into four-year bachelor’s degrees under Armstrong’s tenure, even changing its name from Broward Community College to Broward College to reflect the change in mission. He worked closely with business and education communities to develop degrees in fields they said had a high demand for workers, including information technology, nursing, special education and aviation.

Under his leadership, Broward College also greatly expanded its online offerings, designating its Broward College online program as its fifth major campus.

The school’s success in educating a diverse student body helped it earn accolades from the Aspen Institute, which named it one of the top three community colleges in the United States this year.

“President Armstrong has helped Broward College become one of the most prestigious colleges in the nation,” said John Benz, chairman of the college’s Board of Trustees.

Officials also say the college has made great improvements to campus facilities under Armstrong. These include new art and health sciences simulation facilities on the Davie campus, a new science facility on the south campus near Hollywood, and a renovation of a large teaching building on the north campus in Coconut Creek.

The college also opened a joint facility with Florida International University in Miramar.

Armstrong’s departure is “a huge loss for all of us in the education community,” FIU President Mark Rosenberg said.

But Armstrong has also faced challenges during his tenure, including budget cuts and faculty discontent. In 2015, faculty gave him a vote of no confidence. The issues centered on pay and job security. Many faculty members have accused Armstrong of trying to end tenure, as he switched to a system that provided pay raises based on merit. Armstrong maintained that the college was implementing only rules set by the state.

Armstrong is a native of Wilsonville, Ala., and earned his bachelor’s degree in social science from the University of Montevallo and a master’s degree from Troy University, both in Alabama.

Armstrong