LINCOLN, NEB. ? Hours after University of Nebraska President L. Dennis Smith said he would retire next summer, U.S. Rep. Doug Bereuter showed renewed interest in the job.

Smith said Monday he planned to return to classroom teaching for the first time in 17 years. He turned 65 Jan. 18.

Bereuter, who earlier had expressed interest in the NU job, issued a statement Monday saying he would give it “serious consideration.”

“It is a very interesting and challenging position, and is vitally important to the state,” Bereuter said. “In the meantime, I intend to proceed with my re-election plans.”

Bereuter said several members of NU’s Board of Regents had contacted him recently about replacing Smith.

“Should there be any interest in my candidacy, I would have to give it serious consideration,” Bereuter said.

Smith’s retirement will take effect June 30. He then plans to take one year of professional leave to prepare himself for classroom work at NU’s Lincoln campus.

Smith, who has an undergraduate degree in chemistry and a doctorate in experimental embryology, said he would become a faculty member at the university’s Lincoln campus, teaching in the school of biological sciences starting in 2005.

Randy Ferlic, chairman of the NU Board of Regents, said a search committee would be formed within a month to begin looking for Smith’s replacement.

Smith became the NU president in March 1994, coming from the University of California, Irvine, where he was executive vice chancellor.

“I believe I am leaving a university that is better today than it was a decade ago,” Smith said Monday.

“We have weathered many storms, but I am proud of our accomplishments of the past decade — the university is solidly on the right course.”

He has seen NU take severe budget blows in recent years as state lawmakers have struggled to balance the state’s books. The NU system, which has campuses in Lincoln and Kearney and two in Omaha, has lost $58 million through budget cuts since 2001 — including more than $19 million in the last legislative session.

“I won’t say the last two years have been fun,” Smith said.

During Smith’s tenure as president, the University of Nebraska Foundation raised $727 million through its Campaign Nebraska drive.

The school also has seen a marked increase — to about $150 million a year — in federal grants and projects.