Even Chancellor Carol Folt’s imminent departure couldn’t stop UNC – Chapel Hill from hosting one last pizza party to honor its outgoing chancellor of six years.

Folt, who has been hosting pizza parties for students for several years, took the time to hand out slices in an attempt to meet her goal of taking a selfie with every student on campus.

When Folt announced her resignation earlier this month, she stated that she intended to stay with the university through the end of the academic year. However, the UNC Board of Governors quickly changed that timeline and accepted Folt’s resignation effective January 31.

As such, the process for Folt’s farewell tour has been expedited.

Over the past few weeks since she announced her resignation and authorized the removal of the remainder of the Silent Sam monument, Folt has been meeting with various student and faculty groups as she says her last goodbyes.

From UNC alumni to the Army ROTC to a small entrepreneurship class of a dozen students, Folt’s farewell tour has spanned every corner of the university’s campus.

“Stepping down as the chancellor of this great university and wonderful community feels much like parting from a gathering of family, friends and neighbors,” Folt wrote in a farewell letter to the university today.

“I love that aspect of our community and will carry the energy, friendliness and aspirations of our University with me always. Like the seniors looking beyond graduation, I too am excited about beginning a new chapter in my life and work.”

Folt’s departure comes at a tumultuous time for the university and the UNC System as a whole.

Former UNC System President Margaret Spellings announced her own departure late last year. Spellings, whose tenure as system president was met with widespread protest, did not specify a reason for her departure.

As such, Dr. Bill Roper, the current interim system president, will have the authority to appoint an interim UNC Chancellor.

“I want to make the right decision,” Roper said when asked about the process for hiring an interim chancellor. “So, I don’t have a specific timetable; I hope it’s within the next few days, but we’ll see.”

Perhaps forgotten in this timeline is the impending proposal regarding the future of Silent Sam that is due to the UNC Board of Governors by March 15.

It is unclear at this time how Folt’s resignation and her decision to remove the remainder of the monument from McCorkle Place on UNC’s campus will affect this timeline, if at all.

But for now, Folt is focusing on saying goodbye to the lifeblood of the university: the students.

“And to you the students — I will miss you,” She wrote. “Every day you have brought to me the joy of life unfolding, your delight in learning, your care for others, and, well, just plain fun.

“So, thank you. Thank you all. My heart is full.”