The Daily Reveille
Friday, Aug. 27, 2010
BOARD OF REGENTS
Comparative literature, women’s and gender studies programs reinstated other factors at work here besides together to achieve a positive outcompensation,” said Barry Erwin, come.” Qualified candidates for compresident of the Council for a Better Louisiana. “I don’t know, but missioner may hesitate to apply there could be more bubbling be- because of the “number of hoops” they must jump through to be hired, low the surface.” Sydni Dunn Some agree, however, the Erwin said. Staff Writer Louisiana is one of the few need for an interim commissioner The Board of Regents reinstat- is strong. states that requires ed two of three degree programs in approval of the “This is a critcomparative literature and in wom- ical time in higher candidate and his en’s and gender studies Wednes- education — with or her salary, Erday, months after their January ter- the GRAD act, win explained. minations. With the legislaperformance forThe Board’s Academic and mula issues to be tive panel’s recent Student Affairs Committee revived resolved and more refusal, some offithe comparative literature doctor- budget cuts on the cials believe LouiMeg Casper ate program and the bachelor’s horizon, you need siana has taken a program in women’s and gender someone to be the Regents associate commissioner step backward. studies despite previously low leader, someone to Chancellor of public affairs graduation rates. Michael Martin navigate the staff,” The University previously of- Erwin said. even questioned whether debate fered a master’s degree in comparaThe commissioner is required over the interim commissioner’s tive literature, but that program will to “execute and enforce all the de- salary was worth the “black eye” it not be reinstated. cisions, orders, rules, and regula- has given to perceptions of higher The changes will take ef- tions of the Board” and act as an education in Louisiana. fect immediately, according to the authoritative postsecondary voice, “I am disheartened somewhat Board. The programs must submit according to the duties and respon- by the inclination of a legislative a progress report on enrollment and sibilities of the Commissioner. The subcommittee to micromanage completer data by Sept. 1. The de- official must also have constant in- things,” Martin said. partments will seek re-evaluation teraction with the Board, the state, Despite this setback, the Board in 2013. the public and the postsecondary is moving forward with this year’s The committee also moved to administration. agenda. terminate the University’s Center “As would be expected, the The search for a permanent for Advanced Microstructures and member has continued, but a new lack of a full-time commissioner Devices. This high-tech research commissioner could be named by who identifies and drives both an center contained a the December Re- internal and external agenda limits synchrotron — a gents meeting at the scope of work that can be done particle accelerator the earliest, said at Regents and may impact the pace found only in eight Committee Chair at which transformational change locations in the nacan occur,” Casper said. “However, Maurice Durbin. tion — and offered “The Board of the Board and staff collectively students the opporRegents will con- will ensure that the necessary work tunity to work with tinue to work with of the budget, the GRAD Act, the and study the newthe legislature to statewide transfer degree and other Barry Erwin est technology. maximize our abil- numerous legislative mandates are president of the Council for a The Board’s ity to attract and handled efficiently and effectively.” Better Louisiana Search Committee hire a qualified also issued an update on the nation- candidate for the commissioner of Contact Sydni Dunn at wide search for a Commissioner of higher education position,” Casper Higher Education. said. ”It will take us all working sdunn@lsureveille.com Following the resignation of Commissioner Sally Clausen, the Board unanimously approved Tom Layzell to fill the position as the interim, but the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget denied the Board’s proposed $329,915 compensation package for Layzell. The legislative committee declared the payment package too costly despite a decrease of $197,635, or 37 percent, from Clausen’s previous salary of $527,550, said Meg Casper, Regents associate commissioner of public affairs. In an Aug. 17 emergency meeting, the Board decided to move forward without an interim commissioner and instead appointed Board members Artis Terrell, Bob Levy, Roland Toups and Maurice Durbin to manage affairs. The Board hired Layzell one week later to work as a part-time adviser to help oversee budget matters and the implementation of the LA GRAD Act. But with nearly $200,000 being saved, some continue to question the motives behind the legislature’s rejection of Layzell as commissioner of higher education. “It’s possible that there are
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BAND OF BROTHERS
Changes to take effect immediately
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‘It will take us all working together to achieve a positive outcome.’
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‘This is a critical time in higher education.’
MARTIN MCCALLISTER / The Daily Reveille
Selected freshmen are contracted Thursday into the Recruit Officer Training Program during the fall 2010 Contracting Ceremony at Alex Box Stadium. They are starting their training toward becoming second lieutenants in the U.S. Army.