To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

CHAPEL HILL – UNC System President Erskine Bowles announced to the Board of Governors Friday morning he's retiring from his position.

Bowles will remain at the system for a few months and has not said what led to his decision.

"It's the right time,” Bowles said.

He told the board his time as president “will always be the greatest privilege of my political career."

When he began four years ago, Bowles said he had a plan to accomplish his goals in less than five years.

"I'm a driver. I'm a pusher. I'm a tough guy to work for because I set really high standards,” he said. “I have really high goals and objectives.”

Bowles wants to finish out the year or stay until the board can find his replacement in the coming months.

"We have to give him the support he needs to finish the job, and that's going to take an awful lot of focus on everyone's part because he has an ambitious agenda,” said board Chair Hannah Gage.

Bowles says he'll continue his "President's Action Plan,” a plan with many goals including keeping tuition low and improving graduation and retention.

His tenure has been marked with scandal, forcing him to replace chancellors at some campuses for mismanaging money. He also called for N.C. State Chancellor James Oblinger to resign amid controversy over the hiring of former first lady Mary Easley. Bowles also faced tough budget cuts in the past year, forcing campuses to eliminate jobs.

But university leaders who've worked with him say his positive mark on the system will be long-lasting.

"He's an enormously effective communicator and advocate of the university system here in North Carolina,” Charlie Nelms, chancellor at N.C. Central, said.

And while Bowles is keeping his options open for his future, he says he absolutely will not run for public office.

"I have empirical data that I was a terrible politician,” he said, referring to his two unsuccessful runs for U.S. Senate.

Before coming to UNC, Bowles served as White House Chief of Staff for President Bill Clinton.

Board members say they will announce a search committee to find Bowles' replacement in the coming weeks.