Acting presidents, also called interim presidents, are administrators who occupy the office of the presidency at a college/university when the position is formally vacant. Acting/interim presidents hold most powers of the president, and are usually installed quickly in periods of transition (most often between the time of resignation of one president and the installation of another) in order to keep the campus running smoothly. Once a permanent president has been approved by the CUNY Board of Trustees, the acting/interim president returns to their previous position.
Acting/interim presidents often step in from other academic or administrative positions at the same or similar institutions; provosts, deans, and department chairs can be interim presidents depending on their capabilities and the needs of the institution.