HARRISBURG -- The chief executive of Pennsylvania's 14 state-owned universities announced today she plans to resign by July 31, 2008.

Judy G. Hample, who was appointed chancellor of the State System of Higher Education in August 2001, did not say why she was stepping down or indicate what her plans were.

Ms. Hample said in a statement issued by a system spokesman that the universities have made "tremendous progress" improving the quality and value of the education they provide.

"I believe that (the system) is now well on its way toward living up to the expectations of a high-performing 'system' in the manner that matters most -- providing a high quality education experience by leveraging the talent and resources of 14 independent institutions," Ms. Hample said.

Ms. Hample, 59, will leave one year before her current contract is set to expire in 2009. She is among the state's highest-paid employees, earning $327,718 a year.

She was previously chancellor of Florida's university system.

First Published: June 25, 2007, 5:15 p.m.