As one chancellor is heading out the door, it is still unclear who will be taking over at UNC – Chapel Hill.

Carol Folt was around the UNC campus on Wednesday, saying goodbyes to many, including students. She also attended a portion of the Board of Trustee committee meetings happening throughout the day.

Interim UNC System President Doctor Bill Roper, who is tasked with naming Folt’s interim replacement, was also on campus. He met with members of the Faculty Executive Committee for an hour in closed session Wednesday.

“I welcome the input, not only of these faculty leaders, but of the whole university community,” Roper said after the meeting.

Roper said that he was reviewing a “long list” of candidates to replace Folt, but he did not have a timeline for having the interim chancellor in place.

“I want to do this as soon as possible because I know the university needs to know what the path forward is,” Roper said. “But I want to make the right decision. So, I don’t have a specific timetable; I hope it’s within the next few days, but we’ll see.”

Roper previously said an interim chancellor could be in place for as long as 18 months, although he said the hope would be for it to be a much shorter term.

“I’ve had lots of help from wise people,” Roper said, “and I’m trying to make the right decision.”

Roper has also been negotiating severance terms with the outgoing chancellor.

Folt’s final day is Thursday. The campus Board of Trustees are scheduled to hold a regular meeting on Thursday as well.

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