December 2014 Board Action

Published on under 2014 / News

PHOTO CAPTION: Members of the audience look on as ULS Executive Vice President and Provost Karla Hughes (left) and UNO President Peter Fos (right) present to the Board.

 

Board Elects 2015 Officers
The Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System today re-elected its officers for the 2015 year.  E.G. “T-Boy” Hebert of Kenner will continue to serve as Chair, Jimmie “Beau” Martin, Jr. of Cut Off will continue as Vice Chair, and Edward Crawford of Shreveport will again serve as Parliamentarian.  They will take the Oath of Office at the January 9 meeting in Baton Rouge.

 

UL System CFO Retiring in January

University of Louisiana System Vice President for Business and Finance, Robbie Robinson, will retire on January 31.  Robinson joined the UL System as Director of Internal and External audit in 2006 after spending almost 30 years at the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s office, where he held the second highest position as First Assistant Legislative Auditor.  He has served as the system’s chief financial officer since 2010, during some of the most financially challenging times.
 
“Robbie’s leadership will truly be missed by both our office and the campuses, but he has certainly earned his retirement,” said UL System President Sandra K. Woodley.  She also announced that UL System Associate Vice President for Budget and Finance, Edwin Litolff, will take over Robinson’s responsibilities.

 

Board Approves UNO Academic Program Discontinuance and Restructing Plan

The Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System today approved the University of New Orleans’ request to discontinue seven academic programs and eliminate one academic department as the first of three phases of a comprehensive academic program revitalization and cost savings plan for the institution.
 
According to the university’s plan Phase 1 will yield $2.8 million in savings through the elimination of 22 faculty positions, four staff positions, and a reduction in the adjunct faculty budget.  The affected programs and department are the following:

  • B.S. in Early Childhood Education,
  • M.Ed. in Special Education,
  • Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction,
  • Ph.D. in Special Education,
  • M.A. in Political Science,
  • Ph.D. in Political Science,
  • M.A. in Romance Languages, and
  • Department of Geography.

 UNO President Peter Fos said these recommendations were the combination of several months of work on campus with faculty and staff to address two primary issues: (1) the university needs to invest in priority programs; and (2) the university needs resources until funding can be stabilized.  “It wasn’t an easy process on campus, and none of these recommendations come lightly,” he said.
 
UL System Executive Vice President and Provost Karla Hughes commended the university’s involvement of faculty and its “multifaceted approach,” as the recommendations originated from the University’s Faculty Governance Committee, then were vetted by the Provost and President.
 
Much discussion ensued before the agenda item was approved with nine UNO faculty members and students speaking in opposition.   “UNO is on the trek back (from Hurricane Katrina).  This is very painful, but it has to be done for UNO to survive,” said Board Chair E.G. “T-Boy” Hebert.
 
Phase 2 will involve the review of other academic programs in an effort to develop plans to restructure and/or merge programs for Academic Year 2016-17.  Programs slated for review during the third phase are a large number of existing programs that are noted as the most financially stable programs at the University.  While today’s approval grants UNO the authority to move forward with Phases 2 and 3, any programmatic actions have to come back to the board for approval.

 

Other Board Action

 The Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System approved the following requests:

 

ACADEMIC AND STUDENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

  • Tech: request for approval to change the name of the Bachelor of Fine Arts Communication Design degree program to the Bachelor of Fine Arts Graphic Design degree program.
  • McNeese: request for approval to offer an existing program online:   the Master of Science in Health and Human Performance, Health Promotion Concentration.   
  • UNO: request for approval of the academic program discontinuance and restructuring plan. 

 

ATHLETIC COMMITTEE

  • Southeastern: request for approval of a contract with Mr. Blake Hornbuckle, Head Women’s Soccer Coach, effective February 1, 2015.
  • UL Lafayette: request for approval of a contract with Mr. Scott Farmer, Athletic Director, effective October 1, 2014. 
  • ULM: request for approval of a contract with Mr. Bruce Peddie, Head Men’s Baseball Coach, effective December 1, 2014.
  • ULM: request for approval of a contract with Mr. Corey Lyon, Head Women’s Softball Coach, effective December 1, 2014.

 

JOINT FACILITIES PLANNING, FINANCE, AND PERSONNEL COMMITTEE

  • Grambling: request for approval to allow properties in Lincoln Parish to be nominated to the State Mineral Board for mineral lease. Specifically, the University has been requested to allow the main campus containing approximately 381.00 acres to be nominated for lease. 
  • Tech: request for approval to allow properties in Lincoln Parish to be nominated to the State Mineral Board for mineral lease. Specifically, the University has been requested to allow the Leggett Smith Arboretum containing approximately 13.5 acres to be nominated for lease.
  • Tech: request for approval to allow properties in Lincoln Parish to be nominated to the State Mineral Board for mineral lease. Specifically, the University has been requested to allow the Biomedical Engineering Site containing approximately 3.58 acres to be nominated for lease.
  • Tech: request for approval to allow properties in Lincoln Parish to be nominated to the State Mineral Board for mineral lease. Specifically, the University has been requested to allow the south campus containing approximately 474.47 acres to be nominated for lease.    
  • Tech: request for approval to allow properties in Lincoln Parish to be nominated to the State Mineral Board for mineral lease. Specifically, the University has been requested to allow the Continuing Education tract containing approximately 1.10 acres to be nominated for lease.
  • Tech: request for approval to allow properties in Lincoln Parish to be nominated to the State Mineral Board for mineral lease. Specifically, the University has been requested to allow the main campus containing approximately 298.63 acres to be nominated for lease.
  • Tech: request for approval to establish The Daniel D. and Linda D. Reneau Eminent Scholar Chair in Biomedical Engineering. 
  • Nicholls: request to appoint Dr. Todd Keller as Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs effective October 11, 2014.
  • ULM: request for approval of the First Amendment to the Affiliation Agreement between the University and the University of Louisiana at Monroe Foundation. 
  • ULM: request for approval of the Funds Management Agreement of the University and the University of Louisiana at Monroe Foundation.
  • ULM: request for approval to appoint Mr. Camile Currier as Interim Vice President for Student Affairs effective November 17, 2014.  
  • UNO: request for approval to sell the UNO: Jefferson Center Building located at 3330 North Causeway Boulevard in Metairie, Louisiana. 
  • UNO: request for approval to defease or redeem the pro rata portion (34.79%) of the bonds that are currently associated with the University of New Orleans Jefferson Campus.
  • UNO: request for approval of a resolution granting authority for the issuance of an aggregate principal amount of not to exceed three million one hundred thousand dollars ($3,100,000) of Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System Revenue Refunding Bonds (University of New Orleans Wellness Center project), in one or more series; adopting a form of notice of intent to issue bonds; making application to the State Bond Commission; and otherwise providing with respect thereto.
  • UNO: request for approval of the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with INTO, U.S.A., LLC.      
  • UL System: discussion of Fiscal Year 2014-15 first quarter financial reports and ongoing assurances.

 

SYSTEM PRESIDENT’S BUSINESS

  • UL System: Personnel Actions

 

To watch the archived web broadcast visit www.streaming2.louisiana.gov and click on “Content Tree” and Select “UL System”