After five years Howard University President Sidney Ribeau is retiring.
Ribeau will leave at the end of the calendar year.
A special committee will oversee the transition and help conduct a national search for his successor.
Howard has faced recent financial problems. Moody's downgraded the school's credit score.
The university is also dealing with a drop in enrollment. Its ranking in U.S. News and World Report dropped this year by 42 spots.
