In the past two days, three administrators have announced they will step down from their position, highlighting the trend of upper-level deans and administrators leaving the University.
College of Agriculture Dean Kenneth Koonce and College of Humanities and Social Sciences Dean Gaines Foster added their names to a list of four other deans in need of permanent replacement Tuesday – a list Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Stuart Bell said probably has something to do with the announcement of F. King Alexander as newly elected LSU President.
Bell said many faculty members see this transition period as a window for them to leave their positions and make room for a new team of leaders that will propel the University forward.
“I think we have a number of deans … who love LSU and who have given more than we probably should have expected them to give during a transition of tough budget times and leadership changes,” Bell said. “They said they were going to stay for the last lap, but it’s a good time for this new person to start a new race.”
Koonce, who wants to retire after more than 46 years at the University and 16 as dean, said he hasn’t determined exactly when he will leave, although he plans to remain in the position until the beginning of the fall semester at least. There are no plans for a search to replace him now, he said.
Foster said he will remain in his position until June 30, 2014, when he will return to work as history professor and historian. Retirement is many years away, he said.
Bell and Alexander, who will be back in Baton Rouge next week, have discussed moving all the search processes ahead, though Bell said Alexander has not spoken about any position specifically.
Alexander’s involvement will increase as his July 1 starting date draws nearer, but for now, Bell said he would remain in control of the University hiring process while he keeps Alexander abreast of general process.
The priority is filling the positions as quickly as possible, but doing that the right way means making sure there’s enough information to make the best decision first, Bell said.
Filling some upper-level administrative decisions must wait until the reorganization process is further along, however, because positions may evolve to be more inclusive as the Transition Advisory Team seeks to consolidate positions for a more efficient LSU System.
“It depends on these pieces coming together because some people may have a larger responsibility,” Bell said. “But I don’t think you have to have every T crossed and every I dotted before you can move on with some general things.”
“I think we have a number of deans … who love LSU and who have given more than we probably should have expected them to give during a transition of tough budget times and leadership changes.”
