With the news of Chancellor Mark Emmert leaving LSU for the presidency of the University of Washington spreading across campus this week, University administrators and students expressed surprise and some concern about what will happen once Emmert leaves.
English department chair Malcolm Richardson said his first reaction to hearing the news of Emmert’s departure was “concern.”
“He has been the driving force behind a serious drive to make LSU a real academic player on the national scene,” Richardson said.
Faculty Senate President Carruth McGehee also said he was surprised to hear the news, because in meetings with the chancellor, Emmert had appeared to be heavily involved in plans to work with University administrators and Louisiana legislators to continue LSU’s academic progress.
Despite the surprising news, many said they did not think Emmert’s departure would have an immediate effect on University academics.
“I don’t think it would have any major impact on the college for at least a year or two,” Richardson said. “Our courses are largely planned for next year. An acting or interim chancellor is unlikely to make major changes.”
Guillermo Ferreyra, the College of Arts and Sciences interim dean, also said he does not expect the changes in the chancellor’s office to have a direct impact on the college in the short term.
“The College of Arts and Sciences is currently searching to fill 30 professorial positions,” Ferreyra said in an e-mail. “We do not expect to change this significant effort to bring new faculty to campus for next fall.”
In addition, Ferreyra said the redesign of some courses for the fall semester already is underway, and the resources to invest in the changes already are committed and available.
McGehee said he thinks the plans that already are in place will thrive, because the groundwork already has been laid for financial and state support.
Similarly, Student Government President Allen Richey said his understanding is that the Flagship Agenda, Emmert’s plan to improve research and education at the University, still is the model for the University’s progress.
However, Richey said he was concerned about what will happen in light of Emmert’s departure.
“I have several fears about who will replace Emmert, and until we have a national search, I don’t know how that uneasiness will subside,” Richey said.
Richey said Emmert has been a “phenomenal leader” who has actively sought input about the direction of the University.
“He will be incredibly difficult to replace,” Richey said.
Richey said the next step is for the University to find someone who can execute the Agenda.
Like administrators and student leaders, students said they were surprised to hear that Emmert was leaving LSU.
“I was kind of shocked,” said Austin Williams, a history senior. “It might hurt LSU, but I’d go back to my alma mater if I could, too.”
Emmert is a native of Tacoma, Wash., and graduated from the University of Washington.
Ramona Sinoha, an agricultural economics senior, also said the news was shocking.
Sinoha said she thought Emmert has done a “very good” job as chancellor, and losing him could be bad for the University.
Sarah Dibble, a kinesiology junior, said she had not been following the situation very closely, and she was unsure how the change would impact the University.
Katy Richardson, a general studies junior, said she understood Emmert’s reasons for returning to the UW.
“He always said it was the only place he would leave LSU for,” Richardson said.
Richardson said she was not very concerned about the future of LSU without Emmert, because she thinks he has done a good job of hiring people for other positions.
“He’s put enough people in place below him, so there’s a strong structure of people that can continue,” she said.