LSU will soon set out on a national search for a new academic leader, following an announcement Tuesday that executive vice president and provost Stuart Bell is being recommended for the University of Alabama president’s post.
While Bell’s departure for a promotion wouldn’t come as a surprise, Roy Martin, head of the state Board of Regents, said he blamed it in part on unstable state funding for higher education.
“I have worked closely with Stuart on many projects, and I know that the chaos in this year’s legislative session contributed to his decision to leave,” Martin wrote in an email. “Granted, it is a big promotion, but the struggle for each of our higher education elders to effectively perform their duties is severely hampered by the unknown future of higher education funding.”
Colleges and universities entered the legislative session facing the threat of a 82 percent hit to higher education funding — what was widely referred to as a “doomsday scenario” for higher education in Louisiana.
State lawmakers have worked to restore much of that funding but remain without a final spending plan for the budget that begins July 1 with just days left in the legislative session.
His departure from LSU marks the latest in a series of high-profile exits in recent months.
LSU Dean of Students and Associate Vice Chancellor K.C. White is set to become vice president for student affairs at Kennesaw State University, effective July 1.
And David Kurpius, LSU associate vice chancellor of enrollment management, has been named the new dean of the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism.
Thanks Jindal and Legislature.
While Bell’s departure for a promotion wouldn’t come as a surprise, Roy Martin, head of the state Board of Regents, said he blamed it in part on unstable state funding for higher education.
“I have worked closely with Stuart on many projects, and I know that the chaos in this year’s legislative session contributed to his decision to leave,” Martin wrote in an email. “Granted, it is a big promotion, but the struggle for each of our higher education elders to effectively perform their duties is severely hampered by the unknown future of higher education funding.”
Colleges and universities entered the legislative session facing the threat of a 82 percent hit to higher education funding — what was widely referred to as a “doomsday scenario” for higher education in Louisiana.
State lawmakers have worked to restore much of that funding but remain without a final spending plan for the budget that begins July 1 with just days left in the legislative session.
His departure from LSU marks the latest in a series of high-profile exits in recent months.
LSU Dean of Students and Associate Vice Chancellor K.C. White is set to become vice president for student affairs at Kennesaw State University, effective July 1.
And David Kurpius, LSU associate vice chancellor of enrollment management, has been named the new dean of the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism.
Thanks Jindal and Legislature.
