Peter Hans elected as chair by UNC Board of Governors

Peter Hans will take over as chair for the UNC-system Board of Governors beginning July 1.

Hans, who is currently the board’s vice chair, defeated Paul Fulton for the board-elected position.

System President Thomas Ross said he expects Hans to be an outstanding leader and praised current Chairwoman Hannah Gage’s work.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better chairman,” Ross said of Gage.

Hans said he will focus on maximizing resources for UNC, put a strong emphasis on developing and improving teaching and research within the system.

He said the board must continue adjusting to changes in higher education but focus on keeping tuition affordable and predictable.

“Students and parents have a right to expect a high quality academic experience when they attend a University of North Carolina institution, and it’s our responsibility to get it,” Hans said.

Gage’s term ends June 30. Having served two terms as chair, she is ineligible to serve again.

The board also elected Frank Grainger as vice chair and Ann Goodnight as secretary.

Hans said he is fully supportive of the board’s recent decision to set up a panel that reviews the investigation of academic fraud at UNC-CH.

Ross announced yesterday that Louis Bissette, Hari Nath, Walter Davenport, and Ann Goodnight would serve on the panel.

“We need to review what has been done, and see if anything needs to be done moving forward,” Hans said.

The formation of the panel comes in response to multiple reports of poor record keeping and teaching practices within the African and Afro-American studies department at UNC-CH. The University has released the reports and cites that the issues primarily involve two faculty members.

Hans has served as vice chair for four years under Gage’s leadership. He earned his degree in political science at UNC-CH in 1991.

“He knows our state well, our people and our history and our challenges and opportunities,” said former Gov. Jim Holshouser, who nominated Hans.

Ross said despite the difference in opinion between the candidates, the board would move forward as one body.

“Everybody on the board has a common view of where we need to go,” he said. “We know we need to make some changes in higher education, we have do things differently, and we have to be more efficient.”