Boxill Gives Up Appeal, Resigns from UNC

A key figure in the UNC academic scandal has given up appealing the university’s decision, back in October, to fire her.

UNC announced Thursday that Dr. Jan Boxill, professor of philosophy, former faculty chair and academic counselor for women’s basketball, submitted a one-paragraph letter on March 2, making her resignation effective Feb. 28.

Boxill had received notice of her termination on Oct. 22 from Vice Chancellor and Provost James W. Dean, Jr.

In his two-page letter, Dean cited four areas of misconduct mentioned in the Wainstein report, the product of an investigation into nearly 200 so-called “paper classes” in the former Department of African and Afro-American Studies over 18 years.

In his recap of that report, Dean said that Boxill had recommended specific grades for certain students enrolled in AFAM classes.

She was also found to have steered student-athletes to AFAM classes that offered easy grades, in return for very little effort. According to the report, Boxill authored and edited portions of papers for students she tutored. And she allowed student-athletes to enroll in easy independent study classes in the philosophy department.

Dean offered his regrets in the Oct. 22 letter, in light of what he called Boxill’s “record of outstanding service” as a “well-regarded teacher, mentor, colleague and leader.”

But he also described her terminable offenses as “flawed and unethical.”

UNC Associate Vice Chancellor for Communications and Public Affairs Rick White told WCHL’s Blake Hodge Boxill opted to resign before her case was heard by a faculty committee.