DENTON, TX (KNTU)  On Sun., Feb. 28, Gretchen Bataille stepped down as president of the University of North Texas in Denton.

On  Mon., March 1, former UNT administrator Phil Diebel stepped up as the board of regents choice to serve as interim university president.

Bataille informed the university community via e-mail on Feb. 10 that she would submit her resignation to the board of regents which would be meeting two days later. On Fri., Feb. 12, the regents accepted the resignation and named Diebel as short-term interim president until a long-term interim could be found.

"President Bataille has been remarkably engaged with students, faculty and staff members, alumni and friends of the university. Her passion and enthusiasm have increased UNT's sense of community and institutional pride," said UNT System Chancellor Lee Jackson. "Her visibility in the higher education community and her efforts to advance UNT's image and reputation have put the university on the map nationally and raised its recognition statewide. Her efforts provide us a good foundation for the university's next stages of growth and academic and research achievement."

Click below to hear a report from KNTU's David Olshansky.