The Southern University Board of Supervisors voted nearly unanimously today to merge the positions of system president and Baton Rouge campus chancellor, effective July 1. The move is meant to save money, improve efficiency and eliminate friction between the heads of the system and the flagship campus.
Alumni Federation President Preston Castille Jr. says that while higher education’s current funding crisis may have brought the issue to the forefront, the change is “long overdue.”
“For the last 30 years,” he says, “I’ve watched battles between the fourth floor and the third floor of this university go on forever.”
There was little discussion of the change among board members at today’s meeting. The only member to object was the Rev. Joe Gant Jr., who complained that members didn’t have enough time and information to make a sound decision.
The board decided not to hire a search firm to find candidates for the new position, instead leaving that job to a search committee led by former Board of Regents member Dr. Albert Sam.
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