Despite previous setbacks, LSU System leaders are beginning the search for a person to replace LSU System’s President William Jenkins, who announced his resignation in February. LSU Board of Supervisors Chairman Rod West released the results of a study Thursday that the board commissioned to determine what characteristics should be sought in a new System president. The study, which was performed by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, outlined seven characteristics a new president should have, ideas for improving the System and an effective means to search for a new president. West said he will be forming a search committee based on AGB recommendations, and he will present the search committee at the Sept. 28 board meeting. The committee will be charged with selecting two or three finalists by the beginning of 2007. While West said the board hopes to be “transparent” in their search for a new president, he also said the identities of potential candidates will be kept anonymous until they’re determined to be “viable candidates.” West said the decision to keep applicants under wraps is to aid in recruiting the “best” candidates. He said prospective applicants who currently hold other jobs might be deterred if they think applying will bring publicity. The AGB report listed seven characteristics they foundimportant for a new president: academic leadership, management of complex enterprise, generation of adequate resources, advancing the work of the Board of Supervisors, developing strong external relationships, appropriate personal characteristics and making the most of an exceptional opportunity. Board member Hal Hinchliffe said the AGB is a highly respectable group and provided a thorough outline for a future president. “It’s going to require that the person has some knowledge of [the hospital] industry or the ability to grasp the issues quickly,” Hinchliffe said. The AGB report suggests that the search committee be comprised of 14 members, but West said he will make the final determination of the committee’s size and members. The AGB report suggests that the search committee consist of four board members, three faculty nominated by faculty senate chairs, two administrators nominated by the chancellors, two students nominated by student government presidents, one staff member nominated by staff chairs and one or two community members. West’s search committee, which requires approval by the board, will be the second search committee appointed to select a new System president. The first committee was formed the day after Jenkins announced his resignation by then Board Chairman Bernie Boudreaux. Opposition to Boudreaux’s initial search committee quickly arose from members of the state Senate. Sen. Robert Adley, D-Benton, and Sen. Robert Barham, R-Oak Ridge, spoke out publicly about their concerns that Boudreaux was romantically involved with Sally Clausen, University of Louisiana System president, rumored candidate and the vice-chair of the AGB Council of Presidents. A month after allegations began to circulate that Boudreaux had unfairly selected the search committee, Boudreaux resigned from the Board of Supervisors. He cited the negative publicity as his reason for leaving. Before Boudreaux’s resignation, Adley and Barham both asked Clausen to publicly announce that she would not pursue the position of LSU System President. Clausen refused. She told The Daily Reveille on Friday she has not decided if she will apply for the position. “Nobody will make my decision about my future except myself and my family,” Clausen said. “If I do, it’s because I think I can do something.” And West said he thinks she is still a viable candidate. “I’m not going to judge anybody’s candidacy based on things that happened in the past,” West said. Upon Boudreaux’s departure, West was appointed chairman. He then announced that the AGB would be commissioned to analyze the system and a new search committee would be appointed. The issue arose again in July after Gov. Kathleen Blanco replaced two senior board members whose terms had expired – former board members Stewart Slack and Ronald Anderson. Both members criticized the actions of the administration of removing them from the board. “Part of the reason for our dismissals was our disagreement with the potential appointment of Sally Clausen,” Anderson told The Daily Reveille in July. “We did not agree with the governor’s agenda, and because of that we’ve been replaced.” Barham, who said he would not comment on individual candidates, said Friday that the criteria provided by the AGB were inclusive and summarized a good president. “This is so important to LSU that we find the right person to fill this role and continue to move LSU forward,” he said.
—–Contact Ginger Gibson at [email protected]