(CHAPEL HILL)  - UNC-Chapel Hill chancellor Holden Thorp, who announced in September he was stepping down from the school’s top post, will leave the university to become provost at Washington University in St. Louis.

Provost is traditionally regarded as a university’s top academic officer. At Washington, Thorp will also be responsible for research and athletics but at the NCAA’s Division III level. Locally, William Peace University and Meredith College compete in Division III.

But the last two years of his chancellorship has been bogged down by a series of scandals. The most high profile involved the football team, then led by Butch Davis. In July 2010, the NCAA began an investigation into allegations that some players had received impermissible benefits and Thorp fired Davis a few weeks later. Ultimately, the NCAA found six UNC football players competed while ineligible and that multiple football players received impermissible benefits amounting to more than $31,000.

The NCAA ruled the UNC football team ineligible for postseason play in 2012, and must give up five football scholarships per year in each of the next three academic years. UNC was also put on probation for three academic years.

Thorp was named UNC chancellor in 2008 and at age 43 was expected to be at the university for a long time. But the last two years of his chancellorship has been bogged down by a series of scandals. The most high profile involved the football team, then led by Butch Davis. In July 2010, the NCAA began an investigation into allegations that some players had received impermissible benefits and Thorp fired Davis a few weeks later.

Ultimately, the NCAA found six UNC football players competed while ineligible and that multiple football players received impermissible benefits amounting to more than $31,000. The NCAA ruled the UNC football team ineligible for postseason play in 2012, and must give up five football scholarships per year in each of the next three academic years. UNC was also put on probation for three academic years.

The university’s investigation into the athletics found academic fraud in the university’s African and Afro-American studies department which included unauthorized grade changes and forged faculty signatures. The department head and his assistant were forced to resign and the department has since been reorganized.

Then in September, an internal university audit found the vice chancellor for university advancement, Matt Kupec, charged personal trips to the university that included his employee and girlfriend, Tami Hansbrough, mother of a UNC basketball great Tyler Hansbrough. Kupec immediately resigned after the audit was released.

A few weeks later, Thorp threw in the towel as well,  saying at the time, he would return to the faculty to teach and conduct research. Faculty and students rallied to urge him to reconsider his resignation, but Thorp held firm to his decision.

Washington University approached Thorp about the provost position a few months after his resignation was announced. He will assume the position on July 1, one day after his term as UNC Chancellor officially comes to an end.