With the University pursuing national prominence with the Flagship Agenda, many wonder whether the lack of a permanent chancellor has affected the University’s strive to national recognition.
“There is no question that the Flagship Agenda — that is, a plan to make LSU an even better University — is alive and well,” said Risa Palm, Executive Vice-chancellor and Provost. “I do not believe that our national prominence will be harmed.”
Palm said the road to national recognition is much more complicated than a summer reading program and larger classes, and that it is wrong to link the Flagship Agenda to the way a particular class is organized. However, the Flagship Agenda has lead to implementing research professors to teach larger classes.
“The Flagship Agenda does not dictate a particular class size or structure,” Palm said. “The changes being made within the department [of mathematics] are intended to improve instruction and also to permit the hiring of more tenure-track faculty.”
However, the size of classes has affected certain instructors, by either increasing instructor cuts or decreasing the morale of the departments.
In last Thursday’s Reveille, Robert Rioux, a mathematics instructor, displayed his dislike for the larger math classes as a stepping stone in the Flagship Agenda.
“I love LSU and I do truly wish that it had a better ‘standing’ in the world, whatever that arbitrary tag means,” Rioux said. “Unfortunately, one way that such a standing is measured is mandating this Flagship Agenda — which on the surface seems to be a great thing, but causes students to suffer on many levels.”
Rioux elaborated on his previous statements, saying the provost has kept up with the progression of the classes, but the Flagship Agenda does not call for someone up front pushing for it because it is now on department levels.
“The chancellor helps with the business side of the agenda,” Rioux said. “The departments are now in the trenches keeping the agenda going.”
Anna Nardo, the department of english chair, said the institution of the Flagship Agenda was a tremendous success, especially the summer reading program and larger general literature classes.
“We are going forward with the agenda,” Nardo said. “We are working on the classes because the students are being taught with genuine experts and it is a way for us to train our graduate students through the breakout sections.”
Nardo said the institution of the Flagship Agenda is at the departmental level, and their progression and success has not been hindered by the lack of a chancellor.
Ronald Ross, College of Music and Dramatic Arts dean, said they have not experienced any hinderance in renovation of the M&DA building due to the lack of a permanent chancellor.
“We are waiting for the Office of Facility Planning and Control downtown to let construction companies place bids,” Ross said.
Ross said when interim chancellor William Jenkins was provost he became intimately involved with the renovation of the M&DA building.
“He knows what is going on,” Ross said. “We won’t lose any steps in this process because of the search for the chancellor.”
Palm said the interpersonal relationships amongst the administration still remain strong and they continue to communicate daily or weekly.
“The chancellor, vice chancellors and various other senior administrators meet every Monday morning at 7:30, and the vice chancellors, vice provost and chancellors continue that meeting after the first one,” Palm said.
As the University continues to wear purple and gold with pride, many wonder what will change when the a new chancellor is hired.
“The chancellor sets the tone and vision for the campus. He or she will have an important impact on morale,” Palm said.
Palm said that there is a culture at LSU, which encompasses the students, alumni, faculty and administration, that sustains and maintains the spirit and morale among the LSU community.