Rutgers University President Robert L. Barchi will step down after the upcoming school year, according to a university official with knowledge of the president’s plans.

The resignation, expected to be announced this week, will end a more than seven-year tenure during which Rutgers joined the Big Ten Conference and completed the largest higher education merger in American history.

Barchi, 72, was traveling Sunday and is unavailable to comment, according to the university.

A board-certified neurologist and former president of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Barchi came to Rutgers in 2012 with the state university on the verge of historic changes.

His arrival ushered in an era of expansion as Rutgers merged with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and transformed its New Brunswick campus with a new honors college and a series of sparking modern buildings.

However, Barchi’s administration was also rocked by multiple athletics scandals. Those controversies, combined with hapless on-field performances, made Rutgers’ expensive foray into big-time college sports a recurring punchline.

Still, through it all, the profile of American’s eighth-oldest college grew. The university’s endowment surged. Funding for research increased. More out of-state students chose Rutgers, and former President Barack Obama agreed to speak at the 2016 commencement ceremony.

Barchi, the 20th president of Rutgers, made a five-year commitment when he came to the university, leading to speculation about his future ever since that initial commitment was fulfilled.

He agreed last September to remain president through the 2019-2020 academic year.

Barchi, who makes more than $700,000 in base salary with incentives to earn more, is allowed to take a one-year sabbatical at his presidential salary whenever he steps down, according to his hiring agreement. He then has the option to return to Rutgers as a distinguished professor.

Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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