On Oct. 12, University of Massachusetts Boston’s Interim Chancellor Barry Mills released a statement stating that he will be stepping down from his position by the end of the academic year in June 2018.

“When I was appointed interim chancellor in the summer, I stated that it was my intention to remain in office for as long as it took for this community to address its financial challenges” the statement said. Mills also stated in the memo that the school’s financial debt of $18 million will drop to no more than $5 million during this year and that “UMass Boston’s budget will be balanced in subsequent years.”

After J. Keith Motley, previous Chancellor of UMass Boston, decided to step down last summer, Interim Chancellor Mills was hired to fix the budget deficit. In doing so, UMass Boston cut down on the number of shuttle buses available on campus over the summer under his leadership. This was also followed by the announcement of closing the on-campus day care center.

A few hours after the statement’s release, Mills hosted a formal Town Hall Forum in the Campus Center. Students, faculty, and administrators gathered as they waited for Mills to begin his introduction. Mills stated that his position was much more difficult than he had imagined, but that UMass Boston has grown “much faster than resources available.”

It was announced at the Town Hall Forum that UMass Boston has formed a search committee to find Mills’ replacement.