Vice Provost for Student Affairs Jerry Rinehart will retire this spring, University officials announced Monday.

After serving the University of Minnesota for more than 35 years, Rinehart will officially step down on April 1, 2013. Rinehart has headed the Office for Student Affairs, which oversees several departments including the Aurora Center, the Office for Fraternity and Sorority Life and Student Unions and Activities, since 2003. Before beginning his work in the Provost’s Office, Rinehart was an assistant dean and director of undergraduate programs in the Carlson School of Management for 20 years.

Rinehart is the latest in a string of administrators who have retired or relocated since University President Eric Kaler took over last summer including Tim Mulcahy, vice president for research, who will retire at the end of 2012 and Kathleen O’Brien, former vice president for university services who stepped down Aug. 15 after announcing her retirement in February.

A search for Rinehart’s replacement will begin this fall, according to a letter from Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Karen Hanson. In the announcement, Hanson wrote that Rinehart is a “beloved leader who is well respected by faculty, staff, students and alumni.” The University will celebrate Rinehart’s career this spring.