Cal Lutheran’s President Will Resign His Post : Education: Jerry H. Miller will become the university’s first chancellor in charge of development and fund raising.

Cal Lutheran University President Jerry H. Miller announced Tuesday that he will resign to become the university’s first chancellor in charge of development and fund raising.

Miller said he requested the move, which will become effective July 1, because it would give him more time to work on what he enjoys most, campus expansion.

Recently, under Miller’s direction, Cal Lutheran finalized a $70-million expansion plan. If the proposal is approved by Thousand Oaks city planners, the campus would more than double in size.

The university also hopes to beef up its endowment fund, a responsibility that would fall to Miller.

“This is something I’m very happy to do,” said Miller, who has served as president of the university since 1981. “With 10 years experience, I know the major donors better than anyone else, and I’m prepared to help the university in that special kind of way.”

The university’s Board of Regents will meet next month to formulate a plan for finding a new president before Miller leaves his post.

Dennis Gillette, vice president for institutional advancement, said Miller would be ideal for the new chancellor job.

“This is one of the most positive moves the university has been able to make for some time,” Gillette said. “No one has the breadth of knowledge of the constituency than Jerry Miller.”

Former county supervisor Madge L. Schaefer, who has helped Cal Lutheran with fund-raising efforts, also praised Miller.

“He has been a faithful guardian and the university has grown under his leadership,” Schaefer said. “He’s done a good job.”

But despite Miller’s accomplishments, he at times has been criticized for his decisions.

The state Department of Fair Employment and Housing is investigating a claim of age discrimination by Don Green, the school’s former track and cross-country coach who reluctantly retired last spring.

Also, the university has come under scrutiny for its handling of Bob Shoup, the longtime football coach who was fired in 1989 although he said he was promised a lifetime contract.

Miller denied that the controversy over personnel matters forced him to move to the new position, where he will work for the new president.

“There is absolutely no pressure or force on this,” Miller said. “I’m very pleased with this opportunity to move forward with the university in fresh ways. I think we can make some great advances.”

Miller was only the fourth president of Cal Lutheran since its founding in 1959. During his tenure, the university has built a library, forum, science center, residence hall and chapel.

Planned expansion calls for the university to build a physical education and athletic complex, a creative arts center, an educational technology building and faculty housing on 180 acres of mostly undeveloped land that it owns north of Olsen Road.

The first phase of the construction is expected to be under way by the second half of 1992.

Times correspondent Jack Searles contributed to this story.