The role of permanent president for the University of North Carolina System has been unclear for more than a year, as the system has worked to find a long-term replacement for Margaret Spellings.

Thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, the wait may last even longer than planned.

Spellings’ resignation last March means the system’s Board of Governors is searching for what will be its fifth president in five years, after two permanent presidents and two interim presidents have served.

Chair of the Board of Governors Randy Ramsey spoke with the media following Friday’s meeting. He said while finding the system’s next president is still a high priority, assisting its universities during the coronavirus pandemic has taken precedent.

“This [search] is likely the most important thing I will do as a board member and we take this task very seriously,” said Ramsey. “But given that, and given the way the environment has been changed from COVID-19, it has slowed the process. We will resume when it is safe to do so.”

Bill Roper has been serving in the interim role for more than a year. At the Board of Governors’ virtual meeting on Friday, Roper and other system officials said he has agreed to stay past his previously chosen end date. Last September, he’d said June 30 would be when he left the role of interim president with no intention of seeking the permanent role.

Roper did not give any indication on Friday he’s since changed his mind about being considered for the permanent role or how long he intends to remain.

“I’m honored to serve,” he said, “and we’ll see how this plays out.”

Ramsey praised Roper for his leadership before and during the ongoing pandemic, saying he’s very thankful for Roper being gracious during the discussions of his role moving forward.

“I cannot think of anyone that could be leading the UNC System through a pandemic who’s more qualified than President Roper is, and I’m grateful to have him as a partner in this venture.”

The Board of Governors discussed additional agenda items on Friday, including changes to its budget requests for the upcoming fiscal year due to the coronavirus.

The new requests are now $185 million less in operating expenditures for the university system, and also cut the more than $600 million original requested for various capital improvement projects. Roper was quick to stress the decrease in requests do not signify a true budget cut, but instead are an adjustment amid the pandemic to initial amounts.

The system is estimating an approximate $120 million in total revenue lost through housing and dining plans going unfulfilled or prorated during the spring semester, as all campuses have been ordered to conduct instruction remotely.

The next UNC System Board of Governors meetings are scheduled for May 19 and 20.

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