Interim chancellor prepares to take office

As UNC Charlotte Chancellor Emeritus Jim Woodward sat in his office Monday afternoon, preparing to head to N.C. State as interim chancellor in the wake of James Oblinger's resignation, he admitted coming out of retirement to fill in as the top administrator was not high on his list of priorities.

"I had no aspirations to have a full-time job again," he said in a phone interview while still in Charlotte. "It was nice to have the freedom and flexibility of retirement. These are jobs that require full attention."

Woodward said he was initially contacted over the weekend after issues began to arise about Oblinger's contradictory accounts of the separation package being offered to former Provost Larry Nielsen after he resigned in May. He said Bowles extended a firm offer to him on Sunday.

"The formal contact came after Chancellor Oblinger decided to resign," Woodward said.

Woodward stressed that Chancellor Oblinger did a "superb" job while leading the University, and that is why he felt comfortable stepping in for the time being.

"N.C. State is an extraordinarily important University," Woodward said. "It is not a troubled University."

UNC System President Erskine Bowles said in a memo sent to the UNC Board of Governors that he is "extremely grateful" that Woodward, who taught engineering at NCSU early in his career, was willing to accept the position on short notice. Bowles said Woodward will have full control during the transition period.

"I have asked Jim Woodward to become chancellor on an interim basis. Not interim chancellor but chancellor, and be fully in charge on an interim basis," Bowles said during a press conference Monday afternoon.

Woodward said he planned to arrive on campus Tuesday morning and he would begin meeting with "top administrators, faculty leaders, staff leaders and student leaders." He said a couple of his goals are to be "open and honest" with the media and to turn his full attention to the University and its students.

"What I commit to you is my full energy to do the job," he said. "Bottom line is I like to be around students."

Check Thursday's edition for more.