Posted on 02/13/2010 5:17:28 AM PST by csvset
Raleigh, N.C. — University of North Carolina President Erskine Bowles announced Friday morning that he will retire as head of the 16-campus system by the end of this year, or as soon as a successor can be named.
"I know in my head that this is the right decision at the right time," Bowles told the UNC Board of Governors during its monthly meeting.
Bowles was named UNC president in January 2006, and he said Friday that he had always planned to stay in the position for no more than five years.
He called the university system "the best in the country" and said he is proud of its standing as he hands the reins off to a successor.
Before coming to UNC, Bowles worked as an investment banker in Charlotte, and he served as head of the Small Business Administration in Washington, D.C., and as chief of staff to former President Bill Clinton. He also ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate, losing to Elizabeth Dole in 2002 and to Sen. Richard Burr in 2004.
Former UNC President William Friday said he regrets the Bowles won't continue heading the university system.
"He brought very seasoned experience to the job," Friday said. "It's a splendid example of a native son coming home to his native land to help the people of North Carolina."
When he took office, Bowles promised to work to keep tuition low. On Friday, the Board of Governors approved tuition increases that state lawmakers mandated last year to help balance the budget. Under the guidelines, each campus must raise tuition for the 2010-11 school year by the lesser of 8 percent or $200, and the extra money would go back to the state's General Fund, not the schools.
The budget deficit also forced the UNC system to cut hundreds of jobs, and Bowles pushed for campuses to revamp their management structures after an independent consultant noted that administrative expenses were growing faster than academic spending at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Bowles' tenure was also marked by scandal at several campuses. He replaced the chancellors at both Fayetteville State University and North Carolina A&T State University because of financial mismanagement, and last year, he called for the resignation of North Carolina State University Chancellor James Oblinger amid a federal investigation into the hiring and promotion of Mary Easley, the wife of former Gov. Mike Easley
The guy is also on the board of GM and Morgan Stanley. I have to wonder if he was "stimulated" through the connection to either of those companies.
Irksome Bowles, according to Rush.
Isnt this guy a part owner of the Carolina Panthers? Also isnt he credited with saying while in the Clinton administration that “we will be living under a single world government within 50 years.”
Time for real cutting and with the Democratic background, rather than face the Unions and their unsustainable legacy and benefit cost, he will just move on to some other nonprofit.
Perhaps he should leave the job to a women to clean up that mess, what the heck, that is what will happen in 2012....
I wonder if he is going to go back into politics. This guy has some baggage: Clinton-era national security/terrorism decisions; never met a tax increase he didn’t like, etc.
And Rumpole of the Bailey.
Yay! I have an idea for a retirement gift....get him some decent glasses.
Politicians SAY a lot of things.
Even The Timsons had no use for him...
Not necessarily good news. If Irksome quit it is because he is heading to some other post and it might be one where could cause more damage (e.g., some political post).
BINGO!
He says no because, in his own words, he was a terrible politician. That is true because he has about as much charisma as a wet dish rag!
“Bowles’ tenure was also marked by scandal at several campuses. He replaced the chancellors at both Fayetteville State University and North Carolina A&T State University because of financial mismanagement, and last year, he called for the resignation of North Carolina State University Chancellor James Oblinger amid a federal investigation into the hiring and promotion of Mary Easley, the wife of former Gov. Mike Easley.”
Add one more to this list:
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/counties/durham_county/story/334305.html?storylink=mirelated
*snicker*
The indictments are getting closer to Irksome, bless his heart. A move to a Caribbean island with tricky extradition rules might be in order. He can use the weather for an excuse.
Irksome Bowels.
“The indictments are getting closer to Irksome, bless his heart.”
You may be right. OTOH, he may be leaving because under his watch, the Tar Heels have gone from having the best college basketball team in the nation to being at the bottom of the barrel in the ACC with dubious prospects of even being able to qualify for the NIT.
Irksome Bowels.
Yes, ... but remember that he married well.
Oh, of course not. One thing is certain: he couldn’t get elected dog catcher.
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