University of North Texas President Gretchen Bataille abruptly announced Wednesday that she will resign at the end of this month.

Bataille, 65, the first female president in the university's 119-year history, did not explain her departure in a news release announcing her decision.

The Board of Regents is expected to accept her resignation during today and Friday's quarterly regents meeting in Dallas.

Bataille said in the news release that she had accepted the UNT presidency to serve as a "transformational leader" and to provide a "clear direction for the university's future."

She was unavailable for further comment Wednesday.

UNT Chancellor Lee Jackson declined to discuss the particulars of Bataille's decision, but he said it had nothing to do with the November announcement of the UNT System office's move to downtown Dallas. Bataille had expressed concern about the move.

"Like every large organization has issues, we've discussed them and we've mutually agreed to fulfill her contract and accept her resignation," he said. "I really don't want to go into things that didn't work, but focus at this point on her accomplishments and how far we've come in four years."

UNT Board of Regents Chairman C. Dan Smith declined to say what reason she gave the board for her resignation. He said he would have more to say after the board meeting.

"As a board, we are committed to a smooth transition of leadership through a thorough and inclusive search for a new president – someone who can maintain our momentum and continue to build a promising future for UNT," he said in the university's news release.

Bataille's resignation comes as a surprise, especially because she has been instrumental in leading UNT's drive to achieve top-tier status as a national research university.

Over the last two years, Bataille teamed up with the presidents of UT-Arlington and UT-Dallas to support a bill that would help all three campuses pursue "Tier One" status. The bill became law last year.

During the search for a new university president, the momentum of several projects for the Denton campus will continue, Jackson said, citing the new football stadium, the Business Leadership and Life Science buildings and new research initiatives.

"Our challenge is to put in place an interim leadership starting March 1 to re-ensure that these important initiatives go forward with strong support of the UNT System and Board," he said.

Bataille's contract was scheduled to run through Aug. 31, 2011.

Her last performance review, in May 2009, was strong, Jackson said.

"I and members of the Board are very supportive of your leadership direction as President of UNT," he wrote to her.

And in a memo to board trustees, Jackson said, "The results at UNT continue to demonstrate that Dr. Bataille is bringing an exceptional level of energy, change and a new outlook to every part of UNT's activities. ... UNT is clearly more visible in the region, state, nation and world than it has ever been."

In August, Bataille received a 2 percent raise, bringing her yearly compensation package to $497,760.

In November, the UNT System moved its offices, including the chancellor and some key administrators, to downtown Dallas.

Some Denton leaders feared the move would be the start of a break in the university's long-standing relationship with the city.

But Bataille's office remained in Denton, and she was vocal that UNT would not lose its presence there.

Dallas Morning News staff writer Holly K. Hacker contributed to this report.