Removing a Member of the Board of Governors

Speculation has surrounded the future of a member of the UNC Board of Governors after news of his arrest last month on domestic violence charges.

UNC System General Counsel Thomas Shanahan says policy was adopted in April of this year that lays out guidelines for Duties, Responsibilities, and Expectations of Board Members.

Outside of missing a number of meetings or being appointed to a conflicting board, however, there is no clear policy for criminal charges.

61-year-old R. Doyle Parrish was arrested at his home on Kingsley Road in Raleigh, on May 12, after a report was filed by his wife Nancy Parrish, who was listed as the victim. Parrish was charged with simple assault.

Parrish was appointed to a four-year term on the Board of Governors by the North Carolina House in 2013.

The policy that the board adopted in April has an ethical conduct category, but that focuses on the confidential nature of some work of the board.

The fourth section of the policy centers on removal of a board member. The procedure laid out calls for the chair of the Committee on University Governance to submit written specification of reasons to consider the board member’s removal.

The member would then have a chance to respond before the entire board considers the case. The board is also permitted to recommend removal of a board member to the appointing body, in this case that would be the state House.

Joan MacNeill is currently serving as the University Governance Committee Chair for the Board of Governors. MacNeill did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday.

At a special meeting called by the Board of Governors on Thursday, where many members – including Parrish – participated via conference call, the situation was not discussed.

The Wake County Court Calendar shows Parrish’s next court appearance is slated for August 26th.