FLORENCE - Francis Marion University President Fred Carter will stay on as Gov. Mark Sanford's chief of staff for most of the rest of the year.

Carter was given a sabbatical by the university's board of trustees to serve as Sanford's chief of staff through June 30.

Trustees gave Carter the option of extending it through December.

Carter will begin spending more time at the school, at least one full day a week, said university spokesman Garry Ballard.

Carter said he plans to increase the number of days he spends on campus toward the end of the summer.

"This has certainly been an enriching experience for me, but I really miss being in Florence and the university," Carter said.

Carter said he will definitely be back at the university full-time by December.

"I think we'll be very happy to have him back on campus again," said Charlene Wages, who chairs the faculty at Francis Marion.