Administrative Separation of the President and the Chancellor

I. Return to a faculty position. If a chancellor resigns from the position of chancellor, or if the president resigns from the position of president, after having served in that position for at least five years, if the chancellor or the president will assume a tenured or non-tenured faculty position at a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina, and if there is not good cause to terminate the chancellor’s or the president’s service at the time that the chancellor or president resigns, then the chancellor or president will receive a scholarly leave upon the following terms:

A. The leave shall be for a period of six months;

B. The chancellor or president shall receive a faculty salary during the leave commensurate with salaries of faculty members of comparable rank and experience in comparable positions;

C. Up to six additional months of leave may be approved by the president when, in their discretion, additional leave time is warranted;

D. Non-salary compensation such as a house and an automobile will not be continued during the scholarly leave;

E. Prior to beginning the leave, the chancellor or president will submit a work plan for the leave period, to include a description of the expected outcomes. The plan will be reviewed and recommended by the president for approval by the Board of Governors. At the conclusion of the scholarly leave, the former chancellor shall submit a summary report to the president, the Board of Governors, and the applicable board of trustees;

F. At the end of the scholarly leave, the chancellor or president will assume the faculty position with a nine-month appointment or with a length comparable to others in the department, with duties and responsibilities in accordance with departmental expectations of faculty of comparable rank and experience. Ongoing responsibilities will be determined by the campus. The continuing annual faculty salary will be determined through the regular campus salary setting process. In the event that a chancellor or president does not assume a faculty position at the end of the scholarly leave in accordance with this policy, the president is authorized, in their discretion, to require repayment of compensation paid during the leave period from the non-returning chancellor. With respect to the president, such discretionary authority to require such repayment rests with the Board of Governors.

These provisions related to scholarly leave do not apply to individuals who have not served as chancellor or president for at least five years. If any paid scholarly leave is granted under those circumstances, it requires approval by the Board of Governors upon the president’s recommendation.

II. Return to an administrative appointment. If a chancellor or president resigns from his or her position to return to another administrative position within the University, the terms for such a return must be recommended by the president and approved by the Board of Governors.

III. Separation from the University. In some cases, a chancellor or a president may not be assuming a faculty position. It may be in the best interest of the University and a chancellor for the president to negotiate a severance agreement with a chancellor. In these circumstances, the president may, in the president’s discretion, determine that the circumstances justify providing a lump sum separation payment in the amount of the chancellor’s full administrative pay for up to ninety (90) days. Non-salary compensation, such as a house and an automobile, will not be continued during this period of full compensation, although the president may allow the chancellor a reasonable amount of time to vacate the chancellor’s house. Any agreement that results in a longer period of compensation must be approved by the Board of Governors.

The Board of Governors may, in its discretion, negotiate a severance agreement with a president who is resigning and is not assuming a faculty position.

IV. President. For any action under this policy for which the president takes an action or makes a recommendation to the Board of Governors regarding chancellors, the Board will assume that responsibility in the case of the president.

V. Separate agreement. If the Board of Governors enters into a written agreement with a president or a chancellor, the terms of that agreement shall supersede this policy.

VI. Effective Period. This policy as revised effective 01/08/10 applies to individuals who begin service as chancellor or president on or after the effective date. The original policy adopted on 8/12/05 remains in full force and effect for the president and chancellors appointed prior to the effective date of this revised policy.

300.1.6.2

Adopted 08/12/05

Amended 01/25/24

[This version of policy titled Administrative Separation of the President and Chancellors applies to individuals who began service in a covered position prior to January 8, 2010.]

Administrative Separation of the President and the Chancellor

1. Retreat to a faculty position. If a chancellor resigns from the position of chancellor, or if the president resigns from the position of president, after having served in that position for at least five years, if the chancellor or the president will assume a tenured or non-tenured faculty position at a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina, and if there is not good cause to terminate the chancellor’s or the president’s service at the time that the chancellor or president resigns, then the chancellor or president will receive a one year research leave at the chancellor’s or the president’s most recent administrative salary. Non-salary compensation such as a house and an automobile will not be continued during the one-year research leave.

At the end of the research leave, the chancellor or president will assume the faculty position with a nine-month appointment, with duties and responsibilities in accordance with departmental expectations. The initial annual faculty salary will be the greater of 60% of the most recent annual administrative salary or a salary that is commensurate with the salaries of comparable faculty members in comparable positions.

2. Separation from the University. In some cases, a chancellor or a president may not be assuming a faculty position. It may be in the best interest of the University and a chancellor for the University to negotiate a severance agreement with a chancellor. In these circumstances, the president may, at the president’s discretion, determine that the circumstances justify providing severance pay in the amount of the chancellor’s full administrative pay for up to 90 days. Non-salary compensation such as a house and an automobile will not be continued during this period of full compensation, although the president may allow the chancellor a reasonable amount of time to vacate the chancellor’s house. Any agreement that results in a longer period of compensation must be approved by the Board of Governors.

The Board of Governors may, in its discretion, negotiate a severance agreement with a president who is resigning and is not assuming a faculty position.

3. Separate agreement. If the Board of Governors enters into a written agreement with a president or a chancellor, the terms of that agreement shall supersede this policy.