AUBURN -- After serving as Cayuga Community College's vice president of academic and student affairs for more than six years, Philip E. Gover is ready for retirement.

The college's board of trustees unanimously accepted Gover's resignation Wednesday night, albeit with an air of sentimentality.

"Dr. Gover I know was an asset to the college," Student Trustee Ryan Foley said. "Not only to the college, but also to the students. His door was always open if any student had a problem ... You'll be greatly missed."

Trustee John Camardo echoed Foley's opinion, praising Gover's time as CCC's interim president in 2006.

"You did a great job for us," he said. "You stepped in when President Golladay left. You did an outstanding job. Thank you very much on behalf of Cayuga Community College.

Gover, who joined CCC in 2002 as vice president and dean of the faculty, said the time was right for him to retire. He will be moving to Tennesee with his wife, a place he said is a central geographic location to each of his grandchildren.

"I very much appreciate the opportunities and the experiences the trustees have given to me," he said before the board. "It's been a terrific almost six years or so for me. The college and community, it's felt like home and I'm going to miss everything."

Gover's last day will be March 3.

The board unanimously appointed Deborah L. Moeckel as interim vice president effective March 4 at an annual salary of $104,979.

Read the full report in Thursday's edition of The Citizen.