The process of selecting a new system president will be slow and meticulous, according to Chairman of the Board of Supervisor’s Presidential Search Committee Blake Chatelain.
The board hired The Association of Governing Board of Universities and Colleges two weeks ago to conduct an assessment and shape the criteria of the search. After the System President John Lombardi left the University, the board established a six-person search committee. Chatelain, a member of the board, said the board is currently waiting on a recommendation from the AGB consulting firm before moving forward.
“AGB is talking to faculty, students, deans, staff, administrators and others,” Chatelain explained. “After they complete their assessment, we review all of their info and hire a search firm. The search will most likely begin in late August.”
Chatelain said a decision will be made on a search firm the morning of the Board of Supervisor’s next meeting. The meeting is scheduled for July 27.
“We are not going to rush through a search,” he said. “We want to let Jenkins get in place and settled.”
Faculty Senate President Kevin Cope agreed. He said the most important part of the search will be getting input from every entity within the University.
In a June 17 interview with The Daily Reveille, Interim Chancellor and Interim System President Bill Jenkins also endorsed a lengthy, cautious process.
“I will never abandon LSU as long as I’m needed” he said. “I’m looking to get on with my life. But I would never walk away from LSU, especially right now. ”
 
____ Contact Joshua Bergeron at [email protected]