-- Faulkner University President Billy Hilyer has announced plans to retire after 28 years on the job. He is the institution's seventh president.
Hilyer's retirement will take effect May 31, 2015, at the close of the 2014-15 school year, according to the university.
The longtime president announced his retirement plans in a letter to the university's board of trustees.
"I am grateful for our wonderful faculty and staff," he wrote. "For years I have received much too much credit, credit that was due the faculty. Much of the progress we have enjoyed through the years is the result of their hard work, often under difficult circumstances."
According to the university, Hilyer began his career at Faulkner in 1974 as a part-time counselor and worked his way up through a variety of positions until he was named president in 1986.
Since then, enrollment in the university has more than doubled, university officials said.
John Hill III, chairman of the university's board of trustees, said a search committee has been formed to pick Faulkner's next president.
Chaired by Trustee Dale Kirkland, the committee's membership includes Jim Campbell, Carlton Freeman, Chip Garrett, Jess Hall, Levon Henley, Billy Lambert, Louis Lester and Carole Medley, the university reported.
Upon stepping down as president, Hilyer will assume the new role of chancellor of the university.
"It will be my desire in that role to assist the new president in every way I can and to continue to fully support Faulkner University, while being relieved of the day-to-day administrative duties of the presidency," Hilyer said.