Less than two weeks after an Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld associate circulated a petition to have Bill Cosby removed from Temple University’s board of trustees, the 77-year-old comedic icon ended his formal affiliation with the school he attended as an undergraduate, where he delivered numerous commencement speeches over the years and held a seat as one of the university’s trustees since 1982.

“I have always been proud of my association with Temple University,” Cosby said in a statement announcing his resignation Monday. “I have always wanted to do what would be in the best interests of the university and its students.”