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GREENSBORO — The search for N.C. A&T’s next chancellor is down to just two candidates, according to the chairman of the school’s search committee.

“We’ve submitted two names to (UNC President) Erskine Bowles,” said Franklin McCain, chairman of A&T’s board of trustees. “We feel very confident about the process and our choice of candidates. He’ll pick the one.”

McCain said the two names submitted to Bowles were chosen from a pool of more than 20 applicants. McCain said the committee agreed not to reveal the contenders’ names before a chancellor was selected unless the candidates agreed to be identified. So far, neither has.

A&T Chancellor Stanley Battle announced his resignation in February, shocking most in the Aggie community. He had held the job for less than two years. Citing personal reasons, Battle has refused to talk about his resignation, which is effective June 30.

Faculty and staff said personality conflicts and philosophical differences may have led Battle to resign.

The board of trustees formed a chancellor search committee in March, deciding not to go with the sort of professional search firm that had found Battle for them. At its first meeting, committee members said they would do the legwork themselves and hoped to have a new chancellor in place by Battle’s last day. McCain said he still believes that’s possible.

“We’re not sure exactly when the decision will be made,” McCain said. “But I think anyone who knows Erskine knows he’s giving this his full attention. He won’t be dragging his feet.”

Bowles’ office did not return requests for comment Tuesday, but Bowles himself urged search committee members and trustees to respect the confidentiality of candidates at the beginning of the process. Each member of the committee signed a confidentiality agreement, and no one involved in the process has been willing to talk about any specifics of any of the applicants or final candidates, from their qualifications to their job histories.

McCain, who is the only committee member authorized to speak for the group, said such secrecy is necessary to assure the school gets high caliber candidates.

“Many of these people hold very important positions right now,” McCain said.

“We wouldn’t want to jeopardize their current positions by revealing that they are part of this process, before they have that conversation with their employers, their families, all of that themselves. Confidentiality is certainly necessary, and many people would not apply if that was not the case.”

Whoever is chosen will have hard work ahead. He or she will become the third chancellor since Edward Fort retired in 1999 and the leader of a school that has struggled with academic and financial problems for decades. In the spring semester, 12 percent of the school’s student population was on academic probation — high, but an improvement over a 25 percent rate in 2007.

Like all the schools in the UNC system, A&T is facing a budget crunch that has led to layoffs and pay cuts. Last month, there were more than 100 positions vacant at A&T, more than any other UNC school.

“There are going to be challenges for whoever is selected, but A&T has seen challenges before,” McCain said. “The new chancellor will have to be an innovator, be a leader, and have a vision. And we have to lend them our support and come together. I believe we will.”

Contact Joe Killian at 373-7023 or joe.killian@news-record.com