Members of the LSU Chapter of the American Association of University Professors voiced concern about future class sizes as the University increases enrollment. LSU System President John Lombardi discussed increasing enrollment as a way for the University to reach its full potential at a Jan. 23 Faculty Senate meeting. Many members are more concerned about upholding the University’s education and research standards than its size. John Protevi, AAUP member at large and French studies associate professor, said he fears that universities losing a system of “checks and balances” between administrators and faculty is a growing trend among universities across the nation. “These sort of decisions are made over our head, and then we are informed of the decision made by an upper administrator,” he said. He said he wished he had been “presented with the arguments on either side,” but said he hoped class sizes were not affected. Pratul Ajmera, AAUP secretary and electrical and computer engineering professor, agreed with Protevi about class sizes. “The University standards will have to improve with time,” Ajmera said. “We have to keep on improving the standards.” Ajmera said he believed increasing enrollment and increasing faculty should happen together to ensure high-quality education and research. “I don’t fault [Lombardi] at this point for bringing up new propositions,” he said, calling it the administration’s “prerogative” to look at all possible scenarios. Dominique Homberger, former AAUP president and biological sciences professor, said she had no qualms about Lombardi’s plans if they result in positive effects for the University. “Quality should not be sacrificed,” Homberger said. AAUP President Charles Delzell, told The Daily Reveille he wished the Faculty Senate had been consulted about Sean O’Keefe’s resignation. He said the AAUP did not discuss the former chancellor at the most recent meeting. Protevi said it is hoped that the faculty will have input with regards to the future chancellor. “The board of supervisors granted tenure to Professor O’Keefe without faculty consultation,” he said. He said he would like the Board of Supervisors to “involve consultation with faculty to a greater degree.”
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