RALEIGH — In an emergency meeting of the State Board of Community Colleges held virtually on July 20, Bill Carver was named as the interim president of the state’s community colleges system. The former president, Thomas Stith, announced his resignation on July 19 and became effective on July 22.
When NC Community Colleges System President Peter Hans was picked to head up the UNC system, Carver was tapped to serve as interim president in July 2020. He served up until Stith took office in January 2021.
Carver was also president of Nash Community College from 2005 to 2019. While at Nash Community College, Carver had also been an instructor as well as dean of continuing education and vice president of instruction. He holds an Ed.D. from Nova Southeastern University and a graduate degree in business administration from Campbell University.
Sources told North State Journal that Stith’s removal was discussed during a three-hour closed session of the system’s board on July 15. According to sources, the possible removal of Stith had “been an ongoing conversation for several months.”
One source tells North State Journal that the board issued specific feedback and timelines for “improvement,” and if he chose not to resign, termination was a distinct likelihood. Stith opted to resign.
In related news, one media outlet reported that a one-time incentive bonus of $451,000 was recently approved by the UNC System Board of Governors for system President Peter Hans, the former leader of the N.C. Community Colleges System. He currently has a salary of $400,000.
“The (review) committee unanimously agreed that President Hans continues to do an exceptional job leading the UNC System,” Board Chairman Randy Ramsey said during the meeting approving the bonus.
According to the report, Ramsey cited Hans’ handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, the launch of the “Project Kitty Hawk” distance learning program, and Hans’ efforts at the General Assembly to secure what Ramsey said was “the best back-to-back state budgets we’ve ever seen.”
The NC Community Colleges System has not yet responded to a request comment on Stith’s departure nor Carver being chosen as interim present.
