Dr. David House, president of St. Joseph’s College for the last 12 years, announced his resignation on Monday.

House, who will stay until the end of the spring semester, plans to take a one-year sabbatical to spend time with family and pursue other professional options. He said his resignation isn’t the result of recent criticism by neighbors critical of the college’s expansion plans.

House was appointed president of the college in 1995. Under his leadership, the college has experienced growth and many changes. Enrollment has increased by about 30 percent, the number of college faculty has grown and two major building projects have been completed, including an academic building and a 50,000 square-foot recreation center. Three new residence halls have also been built, and existing buildings have been renovated.

These changes were part of the college’s first master plan, and a new plan is currently in the works. The town of Standish recently approved the college’s request to expand by building new dormitories and parking lots, a decision not popular among neighboring homeowners who said the expansion will impact their property values and cause light and noise pollution.

Dr. House has been heavily involved in plans for the college’s next phase of growth, and his resignation comes at a pivotal point in the college’s progress. But House maintains that his resignation is unrelated to the recent expansion approval.

“There’s no connection there…I’ve been considering this for some time,” he said.

House announced his resignation to the college’s board of trustees a week earlier than the public announcement on Monday.

House lives in Cape Elizabeth with his wife and daughter. A California native, House moved to Maine when his daughter was young. She is now finishing her junior year in high school. House and his wife always planned to relocate when she graduated, though they’re not sure where they will go.

“We’re going to stay put for the next year, then we’ll likely move, possibly to a warmer climate,” he said.

Another factor in his decision is his daughter’s upcoming college search.

“I did want to be freed-up to participate in college visits,” he said.

As for his next career move, House is exploring his options.

Another college position “is the most obvious thing, but there are some other things I’ve been looking at as well,” he said.

House reflects back on his time at the college fondly, remembering the situation he walked into compared with the college today.

“I think the college was at a turning point. It was in need of more focus on its mission as a Catholic college, and it was in need of better facilities,” he said.

“There’s really no easy time to leave…I’m going to miss the students and faculty at the college a great deal. I just think so highly of them, and the Sisters of Mercy as well, of course,” said House.

Senior Steven Goldberg, a criminal justice major and resident advisor at St. Joseph’s, is grateful for Dr. House’s efforts since he has been a student.

“He’s done a lot of good for the campus. He really enhanced the school’s image over the last several years,” he said.

According to Charmaine Daniels in the college’s public relations office, the board of trustees will select an interim president to serve while the school conducts a national search for its next president. The search could take several months, she said.