Three times the University has called on William Jenkins, and the South African native has come to its aid – again, again and again. This past Friday, Jenkins, acting chancellor, completed his first month in the University’s highest office. In his role as acting chancellor, Jenkins has already faced the imminent call for increased campus safety and assumed the role of pursuing the Flagship Agenda. “In terms of administrative demands, there is little difference,” Jenkins said. “We’re now talking about more than 10 years ago when I first arrived in this office. Much has changed on the campus, and frankly, a great deal of it is for the better.” During his first month, Jenkins sent the University’s condolences to two colleges that recently suffered on-campus shootings – Louisiana Technical College in Baton Rouge on Feb. 8 and Northern Illinois University on Feb. 14. These sentiments came from a campus still mourning the loss of two doctoral students in the Dec. 13 double homicide on campus. He also came to a “mutual decision” with Neil Mathews, vice chancellor for Student Life and Academic Services, that Mathews should “transition” out of the position. Jenkins will soon decide if a student fee increase should be sent to the LSU Board of Supervisors for consideration. The $60 increase during three years was approved Feb. 26 by the Student Required Fee committee. After former Chancellor Sean O’Keefe’s resignation, Jenkins assumed the administrative duties of chancellor. Jenkins first served as chancellor in 1996 until he resigned in 1999 to become LSU System president. Jenkins later became interim chancellor after Mark Emmert resigned from the post in 2004 and served until O’Keefe took over in 2005. Jenkins resigned as System president in 2005 and became president emeritus, a title he still holds. Jenkins said he was “undergoing intellectual resurrection” during his time away from the chancellor’s office. He said he is delaying writing two books during his time back at the University – one about his administrative knowledge and another about his experiences of Louisiana culture. “If LSU needs me, there is no possibility of me saying no,” Jenkins said. “It was a calling I could never refuse.” Only responding that he was asked to serve in a time of transition, Jenkins remains mum about what many viewed as a secretive ousting of O’Keefe by Lombardi and the Board. Instead, Jenkins said he hopes to reach Flagship Agenda goals through improvements of campus life and research initiatives. To maintain a safe campus, Jenkins said the University needs more police officers in different configurations on campus. He said he hopes to improve campus lighting and alert systems and add pedestrian police patrols. Jenkins said one of the most noticeable changes since he first served as chancellor is the increased importance of on-campus quality of life. He said the University must adapt to students’ needs such as alternatives for healthy dining options, residence hall renovations and improvement of recreational facilities. Jenkins said he wants to increase the number of students transferring into the University and graduation rates. He said the University needs to focus on preparing students for economic globalization by increasing the number of international students attending the University and allowing more students to participate in study abroad programs. Jenkins said he believes the University must increase its research initiatives. To do so, he said the University’s doctoral programs need to be expanded. Increasing the University’s national reputation as a research institution depends on the productivity of scholars and their creation of patents, licensing agreements and new companies from research-based efforts, Jenkins said. “It’s the discovery in all areas in which we’re involved and translating that into economic welfare that’s important,” Jenkins said. “And the economic well-being of the citizens of the state is today a responsibility of a research university, and I believe the next chancellor will be cognizant of that.” Jenkins, who has been involved in 25 searches for University administrators, recognized criticisms of secrecy the University has faced in past searches. “I believe in open searches,” Jenkins said. “But there are occasions when to attract the best candidate and manage the search where your success will depend on confidential conversations.” Jenkins also said he believes the University will move up a tier in the U.S. and World News Report college rankings as early as in this year’s report. “I hate to think we’re making improvements just to increase our rankings,” Jenkins said. “There are flaws, in our opinion, in the method [used to rank Universities], but it is out there, and it is used by prospective students. We have to be involved with it.” Jenkins said most importantly, his successor must be a leader for the state. Jenkins said he has visited all 64 parishes in Louisiana and spoken in at least 25 parishes. “Your next chancellor needs to be engaged not only with Baton Rouge, but needs to be engaged across the state,” Jenkins said. “I’m not just talking about chambers of commerce and rotary clubs, I’m talking about being really engaged in the coastal issues that we’re dealing with … and in what is an incredible yoke on the neck of the state of Louisiana, which is poverty.” Jenkins said the University has a responsibility to help improve the social and economic qualities of Louisiana. “Your state university and your leader has to be committed to those fundamental problems,” Jenkins said.
—-Contact Nicholas Persac at [email protected]