Retiring UL leader: Cuts harm focus on performance

The retiring president of the University of Louisiana System says higher education’s ongoing budget woes will make it harder to attract his replacement, adding that the system’s financial strain was among the reasons he decided to leave the job. Randy Moffett, whose last day was Friday after four years in the leadership role, says the cuts complicated efforts of the state’s largest university system to maintain a focus on improving performance. “It is extremely difficult to deal with the financial demise of an enterprise that you personally—and many other people—have worked diligently to increase the quality of and to improve the conditions for students and faculty. It wears on you. It makes you question whether you’re doing the right things,” says Moffett, 65, in an interview with The Associated Press. Despite the problematic financial picture, Moffett says he’s optimistic the UL System will attract a quality leader looking for a challenge. “I’m not leaving as a cynic,” says the retiring leader, who spent 40 years in higher education. Read the full story here.