In a move that caught the campus off guard Monday, the University of Wyoming announced President Laurie Nichols will become a faculty member after her contract expires in June, ending her time as head of the school after just three years.

Although Nichols and the head of the university’s board of trustees released upbeat statements with the announcement, both declined to talk to reporters about the change, as did other university officials. Faculty leaders, meanwhile, said they were surprised at the news and would be seeking more information in the days to come.