Michael Martin ended his visit to Baton Rouge and the University campus the same way it started – in front of the Chancellor Search Committee.
The Committee met Wednesday to ask Martin final questions before he returns to New Mexico State University.
“It’s an honor to have the chance to have the conversation,” Martin said about his experience in Baton Rouge. “I will leave here impressed by LSU and the people who care deeply about it.”
Martin said the faculty, staff and administrative members he met impressed him by being well-informed and well-intentioned.
“Everyone I talked to across the administrative spectrum … came with a sincere commitment to [LSU],” Martin said. “There didn’t strike to me any … fundamental flaws or fundamentally flawed people in this administration.”
Claude Bouchard, executive director of Pennington Biomedical Research Center, expressed his concern about the tensions and conflicts between the different chancellors within the LSU System.
Martin said he hopes his relationship with the other chancellors begin professionally and build into friendships.
“It’s a complicated system. It’s an unusual system,” Martin said.
He said he has to begin thinking about whether he can “navigate” the system, and if he wants to.
Martin was also asked about the importance of the Athletic Department to LSU.
“I am a reformed skeptic about athletics,” Martin said. “Now I’m in a different setting and I’ve come to see the value of athletics.”
Martin said the program to focus on the academics of student athletes.
“Every time I hire a new coaching staff, I send them the standard Martin letter – ‘your win-loss record and your [academic progress rate] better be damn good,'” Martin said.
The academic progress rate, or APR, is an NCAA assessment of an institution’s student athlete academic progress.
“I want them to be students first. I want them to be a part of the campus,” Martin said.
Martin remained busy during his time in Baton Rouge. He met with acting Chancellor William Jenkins, the deans of various colleges, 11 student leaders and members of the Athletic Department and Tiger Athletic Foundation on Tuesday afternoon.
Martin also met with Provost Astrid Merget, Boyd and alumni professors and community leaders Wednesday. He also answered questions during an open Faculty and Staff Forum.
At the end of the exit interview, Martin said he has to go back and think about a couple things – where will he have the most impact and whether progress he initiated at NMSU will continue if he leaves.
Martin said he does not think there is a conflict in his contract with NMSU if he chooses to take the job as LSU’s chancellor.
The Committee will meet again Friday to vote whether it will recommend Martin to LSU System President John Lombardi.
The LSU Board of Supervisors have the final vote in determining who LSU’s next chancellor will be.