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As incoming UL President Joe Savoie prepares to take the university's reins, the future face of his administration begins to reveal itself.
At Thursday's board meeting of the University of Louisiana System, board members will vote to approve the appointment of Jerry Luke LeBlanc as UL's Interim Vice President for Business and Finance.
The appointment offers a first glimpse into Savoie's administration and further points to his intent to take seriously the recommendations made in a fall 2007 institutional review of the university.
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Cody Daigle •
cdaigle@theadvertiser.com • June 24, 2008
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Savoie said LeBlanc will assume the position as an interim vice president, because board rules require a formal selection process be undertaken to permanently fill the position.
Ovey Hargrave, a former university vice president, has been working with the previous administration as a consultant, and his contract expires June 30. Hargrave's departure opened the door for LeBlanc to fill that absence.
Savoie said the formal selection process to fill the position permanently will begin with the advertising of the position sometime late this summer or early fall. Whether or not LeBlanc will seek the position permanently is still to be seen.
"But I certainly hope he's interested," Savoie said.
If approved on Thursday, LeBlanc would assume the interim position with an intimate knowledge of the concerns and aims of the new administration. Since January, LeBlanc has served as the coordinator for the transition process, overseeing the work of six advisory teams assembled to address the future of the university in advance of Savoie's start date.
The 2007 institutional review has played a major role in the transition process, serving as the blueprint for the six key areas advisory teams were created to address.
In fact, the review recommended filling the vice president for finance position. Under Authement, the responsibilities of that position were split between two assistant vice presidents.
As for the future of those two assistant vice president positions, Savoie said he doesn't forsee any changes being made in the near future.
LeBlanc would come to the position with considerable experience. Prior to serving as the transition team's coordinator, LeBlanc was commissioner of administration under former governor Kathleen Blanco, playing a key role in the state's administrative and financial operations.
"I'm excited to be serving in this capacity," LeBlanc said. "UL is a great university, and I'm looking forward to working with the rest of the team to move the university forward."
Savoie said LeBlanc would assume the new position at his present salary as transition coordinator. In his current role, LeBlanc averages about $17,000 a month, a salary comparable to his salary as state administrative commissioner.
LeBlanc's start date as vice president is uncertain.
"Right now, the main focus is completing the transition," LeBlanc said. "Then, I look forward to getting started at UL."
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