UL Presidential Selection Process

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In the past three decades, UL President Ray Authement has spent his life developing a regional college into a nationally respected research institution. Through the years, there have been rumors Authement would retire, but he would brush them off, saying there still was too much for him to do before he let go. His decision finally came Friday when he announced it was time for him to "relinquish the presidency of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette as soon as the board can arrange a smooth transition from this presidency to the next." The search will begin soon for his replacement, and Authement will continue to serve as president until a replacement is found. Authement offered his support to the board during the transition process. Authement came to the university as a professor in 1957. In 1973, Authement was tapped to become acting president and was named president in 1974. For the next 33 years, Authement's effect on the university, community and state would be immeasurable. He is the longest serving public university president in the country. The rest of the story Claire Taylor

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Ray Authement was a man of foresight when it came to the role of a university to spur economic development. Authement's decision to grow the university's computer science program is the reason why Lafayette is poised as one of the state's technology centers, said Gregg Gothreaux, executive director of the Lafayette Economic Develop-ment Authority. "When I moved to Lafayette in 1986, his legend of economic development was well established because he had created this computer science program that had become one of the leaders in the world," Gothreaux said. "Oil and gas technologies seemed to rise out of Lafayette, and I think a lot of it had to do with the university and its focus." The rest of the story Marsha Sills msills@theadvertiser.com

[RCAJUN90]

As a UL sports fan it certainly doesn't sadden me. But, as an alumnus, and as a lover of all that UL, there is something there, maybe not sadness, maybe not happiness, but something. A UL under Authement is the only UL i know.

"You don't know what you got until you lose it"
John Lennon

The unknown is always scary. Authement certainly left the university in better shape than he found it. If the K-Sippers are right he held back the sports programs so we should thanks Dr. Authement for the truly impressive job he did with the university and hope we get someone great that recognizes the value of a vibrant sports program to a university.

[NewsCopy]

"You have served as our 'dean' both as a leader for our system office and presidents. You've also been a friend - the best friend higher education has had. Thank you for giving us your life." - UL System President Sally Clausen's comments to Authement after his announcement "Dr. Ray Authement has given visionary leadership and service to the University of Louisiana, to the Lafayette community, and to the tens of thousands of graduates who are leaders across Louisiana and the world. The university has thrived under his direction, growing from a small regional college to one with internationally acclaimed programs." - Gov. Kathleen Blanco "I can unequivocally say that everyone in the ULL family can be justifiably proud of the accomplishments of this fine university under Dr. Ray Authement's leadership," - Richard D'Aquin, who was Lafayette's member on the state board of education and who recommended Authement for the job. D'Aquin currently sits on the Louisiana Board of Regents. "Dr. Authement has had a long and distinguished record of service not only for the university, but the community." - Joseph Savoie, commissioner of higher education The rest of the cmments

[ChanceEncounter]

John T. Landry

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Although he announced his retirement Friday, UL President Ray Authement could remain in his post for the next year. "When I became president there was a whole year - I was acting president for the full 12 months," Authement said in an interview with The Advertiser last week about rumors of a pending retirement. "The trend across the country is a year's notice at this time." Authement became acting president of the university in 1973. For the past decade, there's been talk of his possible retirement. Names bandied about as possible candidates include the state's higher education commissioner, Joseph Savoie, who served as UL's vice president of university advancement for 18 years; and Steve Landry, UL's vice president of academic affairs since 2000. Savoie left UL in 1996 to take his current job as leader of the state's postsecondary institutions. The rest of the story Marsha Sills msills@theadvertiser.com

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Back in the days when Glynn Abel was dean of men and Ray Authement was vice president, their offices were across the hall from each other. Abel would kick me out of school and I'd go across the hall to Vice President Authement and get reinstated - but not without the lecture. "Jim," he'd say, "you really ought to try to go to class more often. You'd be surprised what you might learn around here." I've liked Ray Authement ever since those days. Jim Oliver, the other man considered with Authement for the presidency, was the godfather of my daughter and a man I remember with huge respect and admiration. I sometimes wonder how UL would have been different had the choice gone the other way. But that's speculation. Authement's record speaks for itself. The rest of the story Jim Bradshaw Acadiana Diary 289-6315 jbradshaw@theadvertiser.com

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Clemson Athletic Director Terry Don Phillips echoed the thoughts of many Friday when he was informed that Ray Authement is stepping down as UL's president. "It won't be the same," said Phillips, who served as UL's athletic director from 1983 to 1988, during a crucial time in the school's growth in major college athletics. "He's absolutely one of finest presidents, and men, I've ever been associated with," Phillips said. "I honestly can't say enough good things about the man. He could have gone to a lot of universities in the country, but he chose to live and work there at UL and stay with that community simply because of his tremendous love and passion for Lafayette and the university." Phillips arrived at a time when the NCAA created Division 1-AA for football, recognized as a step below Division 1-A in both funding and aspirations. Other members of the Southland Conference elected to become a 1-AA league, but UL balked, leading to a departure from the conference. Authement was willing for the school to be independent for a few years in order to pursue its larger goals. "Dr. Authement saw athletics as a way to expand the horizons of the university and make people think beyond the regional concept with the university, and provide opportunities for exposure beyond which the university had historically experienced," Phillips said. The rest of the story Bruce Brown bbrown@theadvertiser.com

[Turbine]

Some may not realize that when Authement took over in the early 70's the athletic budget was around $800,000

One of the very first things he did was bump it to over a million dollars.

Now if he had only kept pace with inflation the 2006 budet would have been just under $4 million ($3,847,123.73)

Somehow without benifit of a TV contract or some other windfall, the athletic budget has been able to stay ahead of inflation at around double the pace.

[Zeebart21]

If this is a reality, then its a sad reflection on our community.

If athletics takes a step backwards, Im done.

Very, very few places have the opportunity that Lafayette has. We have seen this reflected in the numerous business related stories about Lafayettes economy.

I have any number of things that I can do on a Saturday afternoon in the fall, and it will cost me a hel.l of alot less.

The internet banter is fun, definitely......but I can get alot more accomplished without it.

We screw this up....I guarantee I wont be the only one bailing out.

"Athletics is going to lose the biggest supporter we have," Walker said of Authement's departure. "It's going to be a tremendous loss to athletics, regardless of what people have said or thought. He has done everything humanly possible to support athletics."

<<<Anyone want to explain that amazing Baldwin hire? That set us back 12 years.>>>>>>>

Academics is always #1 priority....ALWAYS!

unfortunately in this day and age you are judged by your athletic programs.

Thank heavens we have The Lotiefs and Robe! I believe they are so entrenched in this community that they have decided to put up with NO, NADA, NONE, ZERO, funding.

NO WAY in this community...this vibrant, healthy oasis, that we should be the second to lowest funded athletic program in the nation.

We know these boards are monitered by Martin Hall. Take heed cats...make the best possible decision for this community, or this ship will sink.

I will be on the first life boat waving goodbye to all you guys.

Z.