Dr. Savoie Retiring

[RaginCajun77]

The accounting issues identified by auditors over multiple years were damning. Obtaining Carnegie R1 classification and placing UL among the nation’s top research institutions was an incredible accomplishment, not accounting for grants and other funds that helped drive that accomplishment is an epic failure and could impact the flow of research dollars. While I appreciate what Dr. Savoie accomplished at UL, the failure to address these issues timely reflects a significant failure in effective leadership.

[cajundiehard]

If this is true, and I wouldnt be surprised if it is, Id bet money one of the schools is Tech.

What would they have to gain by exposing funny accounting (if that's what has been going on?)?

[BBcajun]

Do you think he gets the nod for president?

I hope he gets the nod. Great guy!!

[RaginCajun77]

How much of a black eye is this on T-Joe and the University? Was this ignorance or gross negligence?

My opinion, gross negligence. Grant funding has specific requirements for use and accounting of funds.

[ZoomZoom]

My opinion, gross negligence. Grant funding has specific requirements for use and accounting of funds.

You better believe in the current atmosphere, better cross t’s, dot i’s and meet objectives.

[Turbine]

How much of a black eye is this on T-Joe and the University?

Zero

You don't get to R1 in Louisiana by pinching pennies.

[CajunFun]

Waiting on Doc Fun to make an appearance here…

Zoomy,

Dang, I thought you just found me annoying.



Here is the thing: the president's #1 job is politics; #2 is public relations & fundraising; #3 is students and academics.

We whine about LSU, and I used to think they were evil incarnate. Then, over the years, as I read about various universities, I realized that LSU is just... 'normal.'

We are exceptional. I've told you folks before that at Tulane Med, my classmates from the 'best' universities-- Yale, Brown, Princeton, Northwestern, Berkeley, Duke, etc.-- were stunned when I talked about how much USL incorporated students in the U's decision making.

My point is, most universities see replacing a president as they might select a beauty queen. Checklist of qualities, and if they have enough flashy items, they hire them.

But most people don't think, they don't learn very quickly. University after university selects presidents as if they were interchangeable parts, and sometimes they get someone who boosts their rankings...

... meanwhile, no one ever realizes the rankings are bogus. They miss what education is really about.

Higher education is not about producing clerks for the factory, nor even entrepreneurs for the marketplace.

To my mind, it is about producing citizens, and leaders for the democracy.

We produce, IMHO, a type of student that other universities do not, one who is engaged, and who believes in leadership of service. I do not have time to defend that, sorry, but over and over I see that our kids want to make a difference. Not a fortune, not fame and power... but a difference.

I will truncate. UL is not the school it was when Savoie was hired. We are a rising star. There will be some high-powered candidates to replace him, those who have track records for fundraising, boosting their schools' rankings, and yes, athletics.

But as near as I can tell, we really are unique. I have never found another U that shares our priorities.

So we need to stop looking at what the "big boys" do. We need to ask, "What is that we do?" We are rockin' and rollin', on a fraction of the resources that other schools have. How do we do that, over and over? What is different about us?

Our culture is our greatest asset. And clearly, very few understand, or buy into, our priorities.

So, if we want to build on our traditions, I think are options are few. I suspect we need to do what is a no-no everywhere in academia.

We need to hire one of our own.

If not, we will lose the metrics that no one else observes.

[Cajunsmike]

Jamie Hebert will be a great friend to athletics. And the name battle. I’m very excited about the possibilities with him.

Dr. Hebert having experience as President of Georgia Southern makes him very qualified for the interim role. Now the fact that he and I are distantly related (we share some great uncles that spoke very little English throughout their lives) may make you think twice about him being ready for the job. I had heard he was not interested in the position permanently. He may have changed his mind.

[Cajunsmike]

So Jaimie hebert served as president of Georgia southern for only 2 years. What happened there

I believe he came here after that role simply for wanting to come back home.

[RaginCajun77]

You don't get to R1 in Louisiana by pinching pennies.

You don't remain R1 by failing to account for all those pennies.