St. Petersburg College president retiring

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

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During Kuttler's tenure, the college has gone from a two-year junior college to a four-year state college which offers more than 20 baccalaureate degrees.

PINELLAS COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- St. Petersburg College President Carl M. Kuttler, Jr., is retiring.

Kuttler announced Tuesday that he will soon retire.

The announcement was made to members of the college Board of Trustees at their regular monthly meeting. SPC faculty and staff were notified immediately after the meeting.

Kuttler, 69, has been president since 1978 and is one of the longest-serving college or university presidents in Florida.

During his tenure, the college has gone from a two-year junior college to a four-year state college which offers more than 20 baccalaureate degrees.

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Over the years, Kuttler has received numerous awards and recognitions, including being named the top community college president in the nation in 1998 by the Association of Community College Trustees.

"As much as anything it's a retirement,' Kuttler told Bay News 9. "It's eight years behind social security. We went to a state college and made history. More and more states are following our 2- to 4-year move. The college has an alumni base that is formidable. A lot of people come back here and give opportunities to the students.'