The president of Frostburg State University is leaving his post at the end of the month because of health issues.

Ronald Nowaczyk, who has been at the helm of the university since 2016, announced the decision in an email to community members on Wednesday morning.

“I want to express my personal and heartfelt thanks to each of you who have come to see me, reached out to express your support, share your similar experiences, write me a note to lift my spirits, or simply tell me I am in your thoughts and prayers,” he wrote in his announcement. “The difficulties I have faced have been made infinitely easier because of your kindness.”

It’s been a tough year for the 4,000-student university nestled in the mountains of rural Western Maryland. Frostburg State leadership announced in August that the university was facing a $7.7 million deficit, which has prompted budget cuts to all facets of campus life.

More than 80% of faculty members at the university passed a vote of no confidence in Nowaczyk’s leadership in September.

“I know that we are experiencing some difficult times within our campus community because of our budget challenges,” he wrote in his email. “Please know that I do understand and am sorry for how difficult, emotional and, particularly for the individuals that have been directly affected, how personally upsetting this process has been.”

He did not specify the medical issues that prompted his resignation.

While Nowaczyk has dealt with health challenges for “some time,” he wrote, he has begun to face “new medical challenges in recent months.” After consulting with his family, friends, his chief of staff Al Delia and the University of Maryland Chancellor Jay Perman, Nowaczyk decided to step down and spend more time with his family.

Perman will “soon be announcing” information about future leadership of the university, Nowaczyk said in his email. The chancellor’s office did not immediately answer questions about whether there will be an interim president appointed and a national search conducted, or if Perman will replace the outgoing president immediately.

In his announcement, Nowaczyk called his time at Frostburg the highlight of his life’s work. He wrote that he’s proudest of the university moving up to Division II athletics, an engineering degree collaboration with the University of Maryland College Park and scholarships increasing from $640,000 to nearly $1.35 million.

“I am grateful for the opportunity I was afforded over the past nine years to work with the amazing people here,” Nowaczyk concluded. “It has been my privilege to serve this community with you.”

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