Chancellor Donald Mash withdrew his candidacy Sunday evening for a presidential slot at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, less than a week after his trip to the school’s campus.

Mash enjoyed his trip to IUP, but said his five years invested at UW-Eau Claire forced him to consider how quickly he would become comfortable in his third potential role as a university president.

Referring to a press release sent Monday, Mash said his decision returned to his opinion that “UW-Eau Claire is an outstanding university with terrific people in a great system.”

He again denied that oncoming UW System budget cuts played a role in his decision to consider the IUP role. “Every place has its own challenges,” he said, adding that both Eau Claire and IUP are facing financial difficulties.

“As I said in my original announcement, this would have been a tough time to leave, given the challenges we face,” Mash said in Monday’s press release. “Together we have been managing our challenges well and I am looking forward to continuing our important work.”

Mash thanked those giving positive feedback both before and after his decision was made, saying they “figured prominently into my decision.”