UL System Initiates University of New Orleans Presidential Search

Published on under 2011 / News / University of New Orleans / UNO Search 2011

 

BATON ROUGE – Today University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors Chair Winfred Sibille officially launched the search for a President of the University of New Orleans (UNO) by appointing 14 members to the UNO Presidential Search Committee.  This comes on the heels of Governor Bobby Jindal signing legislation to transfer the university from the Louisiana State University System to the UL System, a move that must be approved by the Southern Association of State Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC).

“Selecting a permanent leader for the University of New Orleans is the most important step in stabilizing the university and charting a path for success.  While it may be unusual to conduct a presidential search while the university’s governance is in transition, it would be a disservice to UNO to delay the process,” said UL System President Randy Moffett.

THE SEARCH COMMITTEE

Voting members on the committee include UL System Board Members Paul Aucoin of Thibodaux, Andre Coudrain of Hammond, David Guidry of Harvey, E. Gerald Hebert of Kenner, Renee Lapeyrolerie of New Orleans, Student Member John Lombardo of Thibodaux, Jimmy Long, Sr. of Natchitoches, Board Vice Chair D. Wayne Parker of Choudrant and Board Chair Winfred Sibille of Sunset.  Also serving as a voting member is UNO faculty representative Neal Maroney, who was selected by the UNO University Senate’s Executive Committee .

Serving in a non-voting, advisory capacity is UNO Student Government Association President John Mineo and community representatives Susan Hess and Gary Solomon.  UL System President Randy Moffett will serve as the non-voting chair of the committee.

“I believe we have a good mixture of local representatives and seasoned board members on the UNO Search Committee.  Key to the process, however, will be participation of the public during input sessions and when candidates are invited to campus.  I know the board is excited to get this search underway,” said Sibille.

THE PROCESS

The UL System has a tried and true presidential selection process which consists of the following elements:

  • The Board Chair appoints a search committee comprised of board members and a faculty representative. Advisory, non-voting student and community members are also appointed. The system president serves as the non-voting chair of the committee.
  • A tentative timeline is developed by the search committee at its first meeting, which includes a priority date for applications and a target date to select the new president.
  • Early in the process, a search committee meeting is held on campus to solicit input on desired qualifications for a new president.
  • Advertisements are placed in publications throughout the country and a search firm will be engaged to seek qualified candidates.
  • As completed applications are submitted to the UL System office, they are scanned and posted on a special presidential search section of the UL System website.
  • The search committee meets and selects semi-finalists from the pool of public applicants and those recommended by the search firm.
  • Semi-finalists are brought to campus to meet with various university, community and business constituents as well as to have public interviews with the search committee.
  • The search committee presents its recommendation of finalists, usually two or more names, to the UL System Board of Supervisors.
  • Public interviews of finalists take place in Baton Rouge with the full Board of Supervisors.
  • The Board selects a new university president based on the recommendation of the UL System President.

THE TIMELINE

A first meeting date has not been set for the committee, but plans are to schedule this gathering for early in the fall semester to ensure strong participation.  At that time the committee will adopt a tentative timeline and a public forum will also be held to provide the committee with input from various constituencies.  All meetings of the UNO Presidential Search Committee will be on campus, advertised in advance and open to the public.

It is important to note that the University of New Orleans is undergoing a governance transition from the LSU System to the UL System.  “We are optimistic the transfer will be approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC) at its Dec. 3-6 meeting.  Once SACS-COC approval is obtained, the UL System can complete the final step in selecting and hiring a new president,” said Moffett.

For more information about the UNO Presidential Search visit www.ulsystem.edu/UNOSearch.  Questions and comments directed to the committee can be emailed to UNOPresidentialSearch@la.gov.

-ULS-

ABOUT UNO: The University of New Orleans is a major research university in one of the world’s most fascinating cities. For more than 50 years, it has been one of the city’s foremost public resources, offering a diverse set of world-class, research-based programs, advancing shared knowledge and adding to the city’s industry, culture and economy.   Since 1958, UNO has educated students from all 64 Louisiana parishes, all 50 states in the United States and more than 100 countries.  Today UNO offers more than 60 undergraduate and pre-professional programs and more than 40 graduate programs.

ABOUT THE UL SYSTEM: The University of Louisiana System is the largest higher education system in the state enrolling over 83,000 students at Grambling State University, Louisiana Tech University, McNeese State University, Nicholls State University, Northwestern State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, the University of Louisiana  at Lafayette and the University of Louisiana at Monroe.  With the addition of the University of New Orleans pending SACS-COC approval, the UL System’s enrollment will grow to over 94,000 students.