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William O. McCoy told a special meeting of the faculty that his top priority
as acting chancellor is to keep the University on its current trajectory.
McCoy was named acting chancellor on April 12. President Molly Broad named
McCoy to the post after Chancellor Michael Hooker, following his doctors'
advice, took a medical leave of absence to focus on his ongoing treatment for
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
"This is a great University in many ways, primarily because of the work you
do," McCoy told about 70 faculty members April 16. "This University has done a
lot of thinking and planning about where it wants to go and one of the things I
want to do is keep that work going."
McCoy, a former UNC system vice president and a Carolina graduate, made his
remarks after Faculty Council Chair Richard "Pete" Andrews called the meeting
to give McCoy a chance to formally address the faculty.
Broad attended the meeting with the faculty and introduced McCoy as a man
"with a deft hand that is indeed sure and steady."
"I think as you get to know Bill McCoy you will learn that he has deep
affection for Carolina and that he knows this University from the inside out,"
Broad said. "He will do a fine job guiding this University in the coming
weeks."
McCoy said he spent his first week as acting chancellor meeting with an array
of administrators, deans, students and other groups to learn about the issues
facing the campus.
"My approach to the job, first of all, is to do a lot of listening," McCoy
said. "I think the consultative approach that goes on here promotes the feeling
of teamwork. I'm interested in doing a lot of listening."
He said his years serving as vice president for finance for the UNC system
make him familiar with both Broad's work style and how the legislature works,
which should help as the state budget gets hammered out in upcoming weeks and
months.
"I feel very good about that context," he said. "I've offered to be a part of
the team that talks to the legislature."
He also got a laugh from faculty members as he described getting used to the
names of the various task forces and groups working on University issues.
"I'm learning my acronyms real fast," he said.
In response to questions from faculty members, McCoy said that the search for
a new provost -- a process started before the health problems of Hooker or
Provost Dick Richardson -- would proceed as planned. Similarly, long-term
planning efforts such as the campus master plan and the Horace Williams
advisory group would continue.
Faculty members reminded McCoy of issues of particular importance as the state
budget gets hashed out. Those issues included fringe benefits for faculty
members, funding for graduate students and the overall budget of the library.
In each case, McCoy said that his experience working for the UNC system made
him aware of these issues, and that each was a priority.
McCoy also discussed his ties to the University. He took a leading role in the
successful Bicentennial Campaign that raised $440 million. His work as an
alumnus occurred during his 35-year career in telecommunications, eventually
serving as vice chair of BellSouth and president of BellSouth Enterprises.
"If I think about this University, its purpose revolves around the students
and the faculty," he said. "As an administrator, I'm here to support that role
and try to remove any barriers to you doing your jobs."
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