Ku retires with legacy as steadfast promoter of community colleges

After more than three decades in higher education, including five as chancellor of the Seattle Community College District, Peter Ku is walking away reasonably content.

"Overall, I'm pretty happy," said Ku, who will retire at the end of the month. "I have some regrets. But I'm pretty happy."

As one of the highest-ranking Chinese-American educators in the country, Ku is widely praised as a relentless promoter of Seattle community colleges and the community-college mission.

Gov. Gary Locke, speaking at an event last week to honor Ku, called him "a pioneer."

"He has blazed a brilliant trail of accomplishment and altruistic dedication," Locke said at the event, attended by more than 200 people, including Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and a host of higher-education, business and community leaders.

"His approach to education is a model our state will do well to follow in the years ahead."

Ku, 65, is credited with emphasizing racial and ethnic diversity on the district's campuses and encouraging the faculty and students to embrace international and global education.

The Seattle Community College District is the state's largest two-year system, with a $140 million annual budget, 55,000 students and 2,400 faculty and staff members spread across several campuses — North Seattle, South Seattle and Seattle Central community colleges, Seattle Vocational Institute and five specialized training centers.

A native of China, Ku immigrated to the United States in the early 1960s. He earned two master's degrees and a doctorate from Duke University in education administration.

Ku joined the district in 1990 as president of North Seattle Community College. He moved to lead the South Seattle campus in 1995, and assumed the chancellor position three years later.

In 2001, Seattle Central was named one of Time magazine's four colleges of the year, selected in part because of its interdisciplinary approach — combining studies from different departments — and its efforts to help first-year students make the transition to college. Ku is commended for creating a culture that allowed that to happen.

Ku also is praised for boosting morale and creating a more-positive working environment in the district by advocating higher salaries for both full- and part-time faculty. He also is applauded for heightening the district's profile and building partnerships with organizations such as the Seattle School District, the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, the Community Roundtable and others.

"Peter Ku, I think, leaves a wonderful legacy in the Seattle Community College District," said South Seattle Community College President Jill Wakefield. "You couldn't find a nicer man. (He is) truly dedicated to the community-college mission. He always focused on the students."

Ku said liking people is a key to being an effective administrator.

"I love people," he said. "The job can have a lot of impact on the faculty and the students. It is a big, big job."

While many agree that much has gone well on Ku's watch, some say his performance has not been without flaws. Lynne Dodson, president of the Seattle Community Colleges Federation of Teachers Local 1789, which represents about 1,000 teachers and staff, said Ku had become isolated from the campuses in recent years.

"Peter Ku very much wants to make everyone happy," Dodson said, "and sometimes you can't make everyone happy. He had a lot of different constituencies to answer to, and that's always difficult."

Specifically, Dodson said Ku might have been more aggressive in finding ways to eliminate inefficiencies at the district level, perhaps yielding more resources for campus instruction. The district also suffered damaged credibility in 2000 when a $1.3 million accounting error at North Seattle led to cutbacks in staff, classes and services.

"I'm not proud of that," Ku said. In addition, many students who say they're upset about paying increasingly higher tuition while access to programs and courses is on the decline, contend the district could do a much better job of protecting instructional programs.

Amy Burgess, 30, a student-council member and a woodworking student at Seattle Central, said she's concerned about cuts in her program that could occur as soon as the summer quarter.

"It is a serious blow," said Burgess, who is hoping to graduate in 2005 and become a finish remodeler or carpenter. "There's just nowhere else to get that instruction. These are unique classes that are pretty much gone forever."

Ku cited the recession and the state's deep financial hole as the culprits for the district's budget problems. But he said he fully understands the frustrations of students, staff and faculty, all of whom are having to do more with less.

"This year has been tough," Ku said. "I probably could have done a little better. But I don't know how."

Left to answer those questions is Seattle Central President Charles Mitchell, who was named Ku's successor as chancellor earlier this year. Mitchell assumes the $174,000-a-year position July 1.

Looking ahead, Ku said it's possible he might start a second career, although he's not sure in what field. But first, he said, he plans to travel with his wife, Sophia, and spend more time with his grandchildren.

"I'm fortunate," Ku said, smiling. "I'm blessed."

Robert Marshall Wells: 206-464-2607 or rwells@seattletimes.com