Chair of the Faculty Bruce Cairns released the following statement this morning regarding last week’s news that the UNC Board of Governors has decided to dismiss President Tom Ross as of January 2016:
On behalf of the faculty at UNC-Chapel Hill, I am extremely grateful for President Tom Ross’s strong and exemplary leadership of the UNC system over the past four years during some of the most challenging times in the UNC’s history. President Ross is a man of great integrity and professionalism who is extremely committed to the University of North Carolina and the people of North Carolina. Through the Faculty Assembly, President Ross has worked very closely with faculty to protect and fulfill the mission of this great University. While the faculty are all saddened to hear of his departure, and while he will be sorely missed, we are very pleased to know that President Ross will continue to be the President of the UNC system for at least another year. We look forward to working with him, Chancellor Folt, the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees and the UNC Board of Governors to ensure that UNC continues to fulfill its obligation as what the system website notes is “one of the strongest and most successful systems of public higher education in the nation.”
There will be a report from UNC-Chapel Hill’s Faculty Assembly delegation and Faculty Assembly Chair, our own Prof. Steve Leonard, at the Faculty Council meeting this Friday, January 23 (3:00 p.m. in the Pleasants Room of Wilson Library). All members of the faculty are welcome to attend.
3 Responses to “Statement from faculty chair Bruce Cairns on removal of President Tom Ross”
Vic Schoenbach
Dr. Cairns, thank you for issuing this statement. President Ross has indeed been an exemplary leader. It will be a challenge for his successor to live up to President Ross’ example. Moreover, the most stellar candidates to replace him may have their enthusiasm dampened by the prospect that their tenure could be arbitrarily truncated, as Dr. Ross’ appears to have been..
Margot Stein
Dr. Cairns, I also would like to thank you for issuing this statement and heartily concur with Vic Shoenbach’s email.
Altha Cravey
Dr. Cairns: Wouldn’t it be reasonable for you to ask the BOG to publicly state their reasons for ousting Tom Ross? Surely there will be a leader somewhere in this UNC Fleet and UNC Flagship who will speak up publicly and ask for answers from the BOG. It could be you as you speak for all of us at UNC Chapel Hill.