UM associate to retire in December
Sept. 14, 2007
Kenneth Hutchinson, the UM system vice president for human resources, said he plans to stay professionally active after he leaves the UM system, but still plans to enjoy retirement.
After more than 40 years with the UM system, Hutchinson announced in early September that he would retire on Dec. 31.
"I turn 65 next month," he said. "It seemed time to go ahead and retire."
Hutchinson, who is originally from Salisbury, Mo., said he took a personnel job at UM-Kansas City in April 1966. He became assistant personnel director at MU and director of human resources and employee relations.
Hutchinson spent eight years at the MU campus.
In 1978, Hutchinson moved to the UM system office, where he has worked since 1978.
UM system General Counsel Bunky Wright, who also works at the UM system office, said he and Hutchinson have been friends since childhood.
"I have the greatest respect for him," Wright said. "He's just an outstanding person."
Hutchinson said that although he hopes to do some professional work at a human resources firm he started, he doesn't want to do too much.
"I hope to do a number of things, like spend time with family and travel," he said. "Some of the things that have been hard to find time for."
Hutchinson helped develop and implement the system's retirement plan, Wright said. He said the plan is widely acknowledged in higher education as an outstanding plan.
"I believe strongly in the strategic importance of human capital at the university, and I've tried hard to make sure this particular area receives as much attention as other areas of management," Hutchinson said.
Wright and Hutchinson have both announced their retirement and will leave the UM system on the same day.
Hutchinson said he seriously considered retiring last year, but then former UM system President Elson Floyd announced his retirement.
"I decided it would be an awkward time to leave the university," he said. "So I decided to stay an extra year."
Hutchinson serves as an internal consultant to the UM system Board of Curators, the system's governing body, in selecting Floyd's replacement. He said he hopes he will be able to see the selection of a new president before he retires.
"I believe that will be the case," he said.
Hutchinson submitted his intent to retire to Interim UM system President Gordon Lamb earlier this month.
"Ken is a great executive with a justified national reputation for his broad and deep experience in management," Lamb said in a news release. "Ken has served as a trusted adviser on critical decisions, and he has provided constant leadership in relations with the university's most valuable resource: our people."
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