COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) - Texas A&M University President Mark Welsh is stepping down from his role, effective this Friday at 5 p.m. An acting president was announced Friday afternoon.

Chancellor Glenn Hegar and the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents announced Welsh’s departure on Thursday evening following a Board of Regents meeting that lasted nearly two hours, but ended without action on Welsh.

Welsh had faced renewed calls for his resignation or firing from some conservative Texans after a viral controversy over video of a classroom disagreement that ended in the termination of a professor .

In a statement distributed to the media, Hegar and Board Chairman Robert Albritton thanked Welsh for his service to the university and the country.

“President Welsh is a man of

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