SAN FRANCISCO — Frank Wu is stepping down from his role as chancellor and dean for UC-Hastings College of the Law. Wu will officially leave his post on Jan. 1, 2016. In a joint statement sent to the school community Thursday afternoon and signed by the general counsel, officials said they are working to build an “interim leadership team” until a replacement can be found.

Wu leaves his post in the middle of the academic year and just one year after his appointment as dean was renewed through 2020.

Wu's tenure has been marked by continued slippage in the school's U.S. News & World Report rankings. Once ranked 19th, back in 1992, the school was No. 42 in 2010, the year Wu became dean. In 2013, it ranked 43rd. In 2014, 54th. And 2015, 59th.