Less than a year after taking an interim leave, the president of the State University of New York (SUNY) at Farmingdale announced last week that he would step down permanently from the position.

Dr. Frank A. Cipriani, who served the college for 35 years, almost 22 of them as president, made the announcement during a campus-wide meeting on Aug. 30. The change would be effective Jan. 1, 2000, or as soon as a new president is appointed by the SUNY Board of Trustees.

"He'd gotten so many wonderful projects started, and he feels really good about where Farmingdale is right now, and he recognizes that you can never see it all done," said Kathy S. Coley, director of communications for the college, in explaining Cipriani's reasons for the decision. "He knew at some point that it was time for him to move on."

Cipriani's most noted accomplishment as president is his role in SUNY Farmingdale's transition from a two-year agricultural and technical college to a four-year, baccalaureate-degree granting institution. He also helped secure more than $15 million in state funding for a biotechnology research and development park which is under construction on the campus. The facility, known as the Broad Hollow Bioscience Park, is a joint effort with the world-renowned Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and is scheduled for completion in spring, 2000.

Last winter, Cipriani announced that he would take an interim leave from the presidency in order to focus on fund raising and promotion for the college, with SUNY Farmingdale Provost Dr. Michael J. Vinciguerra filling in as the chief administrator. Now, as Cipriani prepares to permanently give up the reins, the 65-year-old Kings Park resident plans to continue to be involved in public service, although he has not specified how.

"I'm looking forward to pursuing some specific projects, but I'll continue to lead the campus until the new president is appointed," he said. While Cipriani will not be affiliated with SUNY Farmingdale, he will continue to be active, according to Coley, who noted that the president has a strong record of public service through several regional environmental and economic advisory boards.

According to Coley, Cipriani's decision to leave the presidency was well-thought out, as was the impact of its timing on the college. Firstly, the move comes as John Ryan, chancellor of SUNY, has announced his own retirement, and according to Coley, considering this, Cipriani's timing seems appropriate. "There is probably going to be a new chancellor in the year 2000, so a new president coming on board should start out at the same time as a new chancellor," she said.

In addition, the college is currently undergoing a mission review by the state university system. That process should be finalized by December. And, in January, SUNY Farmingdale's Middle States Accreditation self-study will be started. "There are new things coming up, that anyone who is going to take over for him will want to be part of. So I think he was really thinking about what was best for the college also," said Coley. "Farmingdale has had 20 years of stability with him as president. So it's hard for us on personal levels, and professionally, to think of him as not being our president. But I think he's been a good leader, and he's set up a strong administrative staff that can make sure that things continue as is best for the college."

In addition to being proud of such accomplishments as the transition from a two-year agricultural and technical school to a four-year college, and the bio-tech research park, Cipriani has expressed pride in the faculty and graduates of SUNY Farmingdale. An example of this was illustrated at the college's recent Garden Party, in which leaders of the horticulture industry honored Robert "Josh" Gioscia, a renowned horticulturalist and SUNY Farmingdale graduate, according to Coley.

Speaking at the event just two days before announcing his plans to leave the presidency, Cipriani asked how many SUNY Farmingdale graduates were in attendance. "He asked for a raise of hands, and half of the people in the 250-person audience were graduates of the college. And I know that makes him proud - that the leaders of horticulture, and this is true of many other areas - are Farmingdale graduates," said Coley. "We've changed people's lives. All educators do. And I know he's proud to be a part of that."

Cipriani has said that the successes that he has overseen at SUNY Farmingdale are a result of a "team effort," and owed largely to the accomplishments of the college's faculty.

Asked what his legacy is, he said it will be written for him by those who will bring the college into the future.

Coley described Cipriani as a visionary leader who will be sorely missed by his colleagues at the college. "He's looking forward to new ventures and a new stage of his life," she added.

A national search for a new president is being conducted by a committee headed by Mary A. Fallon, chairwoman of the SUNY Farmingdale College Council, in accordance with SUNY Board of Trustees guidelines.