UL Presidential Selection Process

[NewsCopy]

The list of candidates to replace retiring UL President Ray Authement continues to grow, but with no in-state candidates. Four more applications were processed and released to the public Wednesday, bringing the total to 13 candidates. Two of the new applicants - Terrance Hitchcock and Larry Lemanski - are also on the list of 54 who have applied for the same job at Florida Gulf Coast University. A new president at FGCU is expected to be named by the end of the month. The rest of the story Marsha Sills msills@theadvertiser.com

[Cajun Express]

_ I know Dr. Valentine James. He used to be a prof at UL back in the early 80's. I had him for a couple of courses. He came to UL from Univ. of California - Davis and was a UC Fellow. Pretty impressive. He also has a degree from Texas A&M. I think he is a man who has vision. I just don't know his management/administrative background. He might be a real good one who is somewhat "under the radar" for folks around here.

3 of the applicants are Deans, while 2 are VPs. One is a "Chief Academic Officer", whatever that means. One is listed just as a professor. The VP's and Deans have some promise. I think this is just the initial crop of candidates. I wouldn't worry too much just yet. _

It is time to worry. This list is totally unimpressive. I am not saying there is not a great person in the group, but the extent of their achievements as a group are very weak to say the least. Looks like most are trying to jump start their careers at UL.

[DestinCajun]

_ depressive _

Hot Boudin told me "Coach" was coming home to take over the ranch.

[NewsCopy]

The committee searching to fill the position of retiring University of Louisiana at Lafayette President Ray Authement will meet this month for a second round of public input. Thirteen candidates have applied for the job. The committee is scheduled to meet in October to review the applications. The committee first met on the university campus in June for initial public comments. It will meet for additional comments at 5 p.m. Sept. 12 at the LITE Center, 537 Cajundome Blvd. “It’s really important to get everyone’s input,” said University of Louisiana System spokeswoman Jackie Tisdell. Lafayette City-Parish President Joey Durel and members of the Lafayette Economic Development Authority, the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce and the Cajundome Commission have been invited. Any member of the public may speak; those who wish to offer input should fill out comment cards before the meeting begins. The rest of the story

[NewsCopy]

  A former head of UL's electrical engineering department has applied for the job as UL's next president.

Demetrios Kazakos, now dean of science and technology at Texas Southern University, served as UL's department head from 1993-1994 and was a professor at UL from 1993 to 2001.

Kazakos is the first applicant with prior work experience at UL and he joins the list of now 14 applicants.

Several of the UL candidates had also applied for the same job at Florida Gulf Coast University, but no one on the list was selected for that position.

In his application materials, Kazakos says that it's his experience as a faculty member and in administration serving as department chairs and now a dean that has taught him to "think outside the box" when it comes to addressing the challenges that face higher education today.

The rest of the story

Marsha Sills
msills@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

Debate shifts focus to skills, vision needed   The business community turned out en masse Wednesday night to add to the long list of desired qualifications in UL's next president. Nearly 175 people attended the UL search committee meeting held at the LITE Center in UL's Research Park, but only 19 of them shared comments about what type of skills and focus UL's next president should possess. While comments were heavily economic development- and business-focused, a few of the participants asked the committee to remember the university's role in providing an education that goes beyond workforce training. "The very reason for its existence is to help students flourish as human beings," said Rick Swanson, a UL political science assistant professor. "Education is not about producing worker bees. ... It is about creating citizens," said Joe Abraham, president of the nonprofit group Acadiana Educational Endowment While the university houses agencies that foster business development and research, it also plays a role in attracting the "creative class," said Gregg Gothreaux, president and CEO of LEDA. "The new president can play a great role in attracting the creative class," Gothreaux said. "UL is the university of Acadiana. It most closely of any institution of its kind reflects life in Acadiana." The rest of the story Marsha Sills msills@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

Sixteen names now fill out the roster of applicants interested in being UL's next president, but during the final public meeting before a short list of candidates will be made, the public questioned the effectiveness of an open search and the caliber of candidates it has attracted so far. That openness could eliminate qualified candidates, said Chuck Lein, president of Stuller Inc. and former president of the University of South Dakota from 1977-78. He asked the committee to rethink its policy. Lein questioned if John Lombardi, who was selected as president of the LSU System, would have applied if that process would have been open and his name was "broadcast across the world." Lombardi was formerly president of the University of Massachusetts Amherst. "I somehow hope we can attract (not) people applying for every other position in the country, but people who are interested in the position," Lein said. The rest of the story Marsha Sills msills@theadvertiser.com

[CajunKahouna]

_ _

HELL NO! How rediculus to even ask.

[bigguill]

One of my friends referred to the UL Presidential search as the most under the table out in the open process he's ever seen. I would have to agree.

[Zeebart21]

One of my friends referred to the UL Presidential search as the most under the table out in the open process he's ever seen. I would have to agree.

The open search is a crock of _____. Can u imagine another university being subjected to this crap?

Lets just say youre interested... You are a VP or dept head at a Miami, Georgia, Michigan, etc....you have been schmoozing the big wigs for years, bringing in the big bucks for you university programs. You throw your name in the hopper over here for all to see. You dont get the job here...Credibility SHOT!!!

Sally Clausen is a huge bimbo. She has the same qualifications for the "missionary" position as she does for the Head of the UL system. She is bound and determined to make sure all schools in the UL system are on an even keel.

Z.