Longtime president of private Grace College plans to retire

WINONA LAKE, Ind. (AP) - The longtime president of Grace College and Theological Seminary is retiring after nearly 10 years at the helm of the private Christian university.

School officials announced Monday that Bill Katip plans to retire at the end of the current academic year as president of the northern Indiana school. The university will work with a search firm to find the Winona Lake campus' next leader.

As Grace's sixth president, he led the school through initiatives that included an accelerated three-year bachelor's degree program, a four-year combined bachelor's and master's program and a competency-based seminary program.

Katip also led the college through milestones, including a $40 million comprehensive campaign, The Journal Gazette reported.

Daniel Renner, board of trustees chair, said in a statement that Katip 'Å“will be deeply missed, and we couldn't be more thankful for his faithful servant leadership."

Katip will be on sabbatical during the next academic year and will be available to work with the new president, if needed, school officials said.

The university's Winona Lake campus is located about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of Fort Wayne.