Giving Compass' Take:

· Education Dive talks with Eric Kaler about his experience as President of the University of Minnesota and the battles he fought over tuition funding and college affordability.

· How can university leaders make an impact on tuition and college affordability? Where does philanthropy's influence fit in?

· Read this article to learn more about college affordability and higher education.

Like many leaders of large public universities these days, Eric Kalersaw highs and lows during his tenure at the helm of the University of Minnesota. Since taking over the position in 2011, he's gone to bat with state legislators over funding and tuition prices, launched a multibillion-dollar fundraising campaign, weathered several scandals, and promised to reduce administrative spending.

He won't be the only chief executive packing up his office in the coming months — in his case, a year before his contract was up. Eduardo Padrón is leaving Miami Dade College after nearly 25 years. Judy Genshaft is retiring from the University of South Florida after 19 years in the position. Dorothy Leland, chancellor of the University of California, Merced, is stepping down after an eight-year run. And James Gallogly, who has been president of The University of Oklahoma for less than a year, is also leaving the position, though under less-amenable conditions.

Smaller colleges are seeing departures, too, with leadership turnover at institutions including Goucher College, in Maryland, and Iona College, in New York.

Across higher ed, presidents are spending less time in the position as the nature of the job changes and factors such as political controversy and fissures with governing boards make involuntary departures more common.

Read the full article about higher education affordability by Hallie Busta at Education Dive.