BOULDER -- The president of the University of Colorado-Boulder has submitted her resignation, effective June 30, or as soon as a replacement is named.

"It has become clear to me that, amid the serious matters the University of Colorado now confronts, my role as the leader of the University has become an issue. It appears to me it is in the University's best interest that I remove the issue of my future from the debate so that nothing inhibits CU's ability to successfully create the bright future it so deserves," Elizabeth "Betsy" Hoffman said in a letter to the Board of Regents.

"It has been my honor and privilege to serve as president of the University of Colorado. We have accomplished great things, the controversies of the past year notwithstanding," she continued.

Hoffman's letter was submitted Monday morning.

"I think this could be the beginning of a new day for the university," said Gov. Bill Owens, commenting on her resignation. "I think it's the right thing for her to do for the university, as well as for herself."

Owens said Hoffman's resignation will allow the university to move on. He also said he wasn't involved in her decision and that it is a matter "between her and the regents."

"It has become clear to many in the CU family that our university ... has suffered greatly from a series of controversies that seem to be growing, not abating," said Jerry Rutledge, the chair of the CU Board of Regents. "On Monday, President Hoffman realized the future of CU is far more important than any single individual."

Rutledge said the regents would form a search committee as soon as possible in order to find a new president.

CU head football coach Gary Barnett, who has been embroiled in the football scandal with Hoffman, expressed regret over her decision to resign.

"President Hoffman has had to bear the burden of tremendous pressure, pressure that in many ways has been unfair. It saddens me to see that she feels it is best for her to resign. There are many including myself that support her efforts, her values and her leadership. She demonstrated courage and fairness in her actions to reinstate me. I consider her a valued friend," Barnett said Monday.

CU Chancellor Phil Distefano also said he regrets the recent turn of events.

Hoffman has been under fire since making a controversial comment in the CU football recruiting scandal that erupted more than a year ago.

The comment came during a deposition given last June in a lawsuit filed by three women who say they were sexually assaulted by football athletes in 2001.

One of the women's attorneys told Hoffman that a vulgar anatomical term had been used by a football player against female teammate Katie Hnida. The attorney asked Hoffman whether she thought the term, that starts with a "c," was "a filthy and vile word."

Hoffman replied it was a "swear word" and that its meaning depended on the circumstances in which it was used, according to a copy of the deposition released by the school.

Asked if it could ever be used in a polite context, Hoffman replied: "Yes, I've actually heard it used as a term of endearment."

Hoffman's comment was roundly criticized by women's rights groups and by critics of CU who said it showed the extent that CU officials would go to in order to protect the school from criticism.

The Boulder chapter of the National Organization for Women scheduled a Monday afternoon news conference to comment on Hoffman's resignation.

At least nine women have said they were assaulted by Colorado football players or recruits since 1997.

Just last week, a grand jury said two female trainers alleged they were sexually assaulted by an assistant coach and that a "slush fund" was created with money from coach Gary Barnett's football camp, according to a report leaked to the media.

The grand jury, which finished meeting Aug. 19, handed up a single indictment accusing a former football recruiting aide of soliciting a prostitute for himself and misusing a school-issued cell phone.

A parallel investigation by then-Attorney General Ken Salazar into the alleged assaults resulted in no charges; prosecutors cited concerns about evidence and the reluctance of the women to go forward with the cases.

Hoffman said the school fully cooperated with the grand jury and launched financial audits of Barnett's football camp and the university's fund raising arm, even though both are independent organizations.

A review of Churchill's speeches and writings is being conducted to determine if the professor overstepped his boundaries of academic freedom and whether that should be grounds for dismissal.

Hoffman said last week that Churchill would not be fired if the review turns up only inflammatory comments, not misconduct.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Monday, Hoffman said her decision to resign would give her time to help the university resolve several issues: the fate of Professor Ward Churchill who is under fire for his essay about the Sept. 11 attacks and critical budget problems.

She also cited an upcoming trial of a civil lawsuit that stemmed from a football recruiting scandal.

"Sometimes you need to say someone else perhaps needs to take the next step and that's what I've decided," Hoffman said. "I think it's really important to focus my attention on what needs to be done and not feel that I have to defend myself against attacks.

"I've taken my future off the table so to some extent I can focus my attention on issues that face the university and not on my personal future."

The Denver Post, one of the state's largest newspapers, said in an editorial Friday that the university would benefit from new leadership. Gov. Bill Owens has said CU's finances and those of the CU Foundation should be more open. Owens also has pushed for Churchill's dismissal.

Hoffman told the AP her decision was based solely on a belief that announcing her resignation would help relieve some pressure on the university.

"It was not prompted by the editorial, not prompted by pressure from the governor," she said. "To me it's about principle, it's about taking a very strong stand and putting the university ahead of myself or any other individual."

She did not explain why she waited until now to resign.

Hoffman became the 20th president of CU-Boulder on Sept. 1, 2000.

Prior to coming to CU, Hoffman served as Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

She earned a PhD in history from the University of Pennsylvania and a second PhD in economics from the California Institute of Technology. She holds a BA in history from Smith College and an MA in history from the University of Pennsylvania.

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