Community-college chief for Seattle to retire in 2003

Seattle Community College District Chancellor Peter Ku, one of the highest-ranking Asian Americans in the state community-college administration, plans to retire next summer.

In a memo to his staff yesterday, Ku said he will turn 65 next year and wants to spend more time with his wife, Sophia, and their new grandson.

"This was all Peter's idea. We would have loved to have him longer; he has done a great job for us," said Tom Malone, a member of the Seattle Community College District Board.

As chancellor for the past five years, Ku oversees the state's largest community-college district, which includes 50,000 students in South Seattle, North Seattle and Seattle Central community colleges and Seattle Vocational Institute.

He helped establish two outreach programs, one in South Seattle to provide English-as-a-second-language and computer courses, and one at the downtown shopping district for retail training.

Some teachers say that under his leadership, the community colleges have had a bigger presence with Seattle public schools, something long overdue. The college district is working with the school district on a proposal for a Duwamish-area high school that emphasizes math and science.

Board members say Ku never got credit when Seattle Central Community College last year received Time magazine's College of the Year honor. "He put in place a regime for the school to achieve that excellence," Malone said.

Ku, a Chinese immigrant, came to the district in 1990 as president of North Seattle Community College, the state's first Asian-born community-college president, and later served as president of South Seattle Community College for two years.

His impending retirement comes at a critical time for the district, which, like other colleges, faces a budget crunch. Many community-college students will see an average tuition increase of 12 percent in the fall, and the debate over part-time faculty salaries is expected to be rancorous.

Despite all the fiscal problems, Ku said he will miss the challenge when he retires June 30, 2003.

"When you reach a certain age, you need fresh leadership, new ideas and new vision," Ku said. "Five years as head of the largest community-college district in the state is a long time."

Tan Vinh can be reached at 206-515-5656 or tvinh@seattletimes.com.