Coming to the University from his former position at Illinois State University, newly named vice president for finance and administration Daniel Layzell took on a dual role like that of LSU President F. King Alexander. His position consists of the duties of previous University chancellor of finance Robert Kuhn and the coordinating, overseeing and advising of financial matters at the system level.
Layzell said over the next few weeks, he will be working with Kuhn to familiarize himself with the University’s administration and finances before Kuhn’s retirement, which does not have a set date.
“There are a lot of things we want him up to speed on,” said Stuart Bell, executive vice chancellor and provost, in January. “Everything we do on campus, we end up having to spend money on. For everything we do, he has to get his hands around and oversee.”
Layzell said the research enterprise at the University and the breadth of undergraduate, graduate and professional programs, makes financing and ensuring there are adequate resources for the school and system more complex than at Illinois State University, which was primarily an undergraduate institution.
The Louisiana Legislature is set to convene on Monday, which Layzell said would be a time for him to get to know the state better.
“Every state is seeing the same thing,” Layzell said. “There are not enough resources to go around for all of the things state governments want to do, be it higher education, K-12 education, corrections or state parks. There is just not enough money to do everything states once did.”
Layzell said Gov. Bobby Jindal’s plans to put additional resources into higher education is a step the University appreciates, and he will be watching during the legislative session to see how it plays out.
Layzell said he was looking into researching and better understanding the proposed cap on TOPS increases by Sen. Dan Morrish as he moves forward in his new role at the University and in the LSU System.
“I know certainly it’s an issue that there are pros and cons on both sides,” Layzell said. “What I hope to do before we get too far into the [TOPS] session is get a better understanding of the program.”
New vice president takes on dual role
By Deanna Narveson
March 5, 2014
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