LSU President-elect F. King Alexander officially accepted a $600,000 annual salary Wednesday that was outlined in a letter of appointment from Board of Supervisors Chairman Garret “Hank” Danos at the Board meeting.
Former LSU System President John Lombardi and current Interim System President and Chancellor William “Bill” Jenkins enjoyed similar contracts. Lombardi’s annual salary was $550,000, and Jenkins’ yearly salary totals $600,000.
The LSU football team’s offensive coordinator Cam Cameron’s contract was also finalized Wednesday, totaling $600,000 annually as well. The salary figures for Cameron’s position increased $175,000 from the amount earned by the previous offensive coordinator.
AgCenter Chancellor William “Bill” Richardson also told the Board he will not fill the vacant roles of vice chancellor and associate vice chancellor — effectively eliminating the positions — to free up funds that could give salary increases to other faculty members.
Dwight Landreneau, who currently fills the AgCenter associate vice chancellor position, plans to retire June 1. The vice chancellor position was held by Paul Coreil, who retired earlier this semester to serve LSU Alexandria as interim chancellor.
The duties from these positions will be divided among five or six other AgCenter faculty members including Richardson himself, he said.
Richardson said he plans to hire Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center Vice Chancellor for Extension Gina Eubanks to fill a new position as the program leader for consumer and family sciences. Eubanks will take on the new role while continuing to fill her Southern position.
LSU Shreveport will also experience changes after the Wednesday meeting.
LSUS Chancellor Paul Sisson announced at the Board meeting that the campus will begin a new initiative called LSUS Accelerated, which will reformat courses to be offered in eight-week terms five times a year, replacing the current semester system.
Sisson said the intent is to make this the default structure by the 2014-15 academic year.
“This will provide a faster rate for degree completion,” Sisson said.
The Board also tended to a list of agenda items regarding University faculty and student achievements.
Truman Scholars Matthew Landrieu, an elementary education junior, and Catherine Fontenot, a biological sciences junior, attended the meeting, thanking Board members and University administrators for their support.
The Board also took time to approve R. Eugene Turner, Shell Endowed Chair in Oceanography and Wetlands Studies, as Boyd Professor — the highest academic distinction in the LSU System.
Jenkins was granted an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa by the Board.
The Board unanimously voted to call the Alex Box Stadium field Skip Bertman Field. Bertman, who was in attendance at the meeting, thanked the Board for the honor.
Two Cooperative Endeavor Agreements were approved, contracts that would allow private management to operate two hospitals instead of the LSU Health Care Services Division — a measure that will save money for the state.
The first agreement would allow University Medical Center Management Corporation and Louisiana Children’s Medical Center to manage and operate Charity Hospital and Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans. The second agreement would allow Lafayette General Health System, Inc., and University Hospital and Clinics, Inc., to manage and operate the University Medical Center at Lafayette.
“This process will really ramp up today with approval,” said David Callecod, president of Lafayette General Health.
After approval from the Board of Supervisors, the contracts must be approved by the Department of Health and Hospitals. Pending approval, which Callecod said he anticipates, the transition process will come full-circle by June 24.
