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������ο��ƵS Board Calls for Institutional Reviews of Grambling and Nicholls – Oct /news-and-events/uls-board-calls-for-institutional-reviews-of-grambling-and-nicholls/25, 2002

Nicholls Presidential Search Committee Named

The Board of Supervisors for the University of ������ο��Ƶ today approved institutional reviews to be conducted by outside consultants of the general conditions of Grambling State University and Nicholls State University. The reviews follow the successful completion of Grambling’s audit findings and the retirement decision of Nicholls President Donald Ayo.

“The purpose of the reviews is to assess the general conditions of the universities from an
objective and informed perspective, identify issues affecting the institutions and establish a tentative agenda for the immediate future,” said ������ο��Ƶ System President Sally Clausen.

Grambling successfully achieved an unqualified audit for 2001 and is currently awaiting an accreditation decision from the Southern Association on Colleges and Schools (SACS), which is due in December of this year.

“I believe an institutional review will help strengthen Grambling State University,” said
Grambling President Neari Warner, who asked Dr. Clausen to make the recommendation to the ������ο��ƵS Board.

The Board also named a presidential search committee for Nicholls. It includes, Dr. Sally Clausen, chair; ������ο��ƵS Board Members Marty Chabert, Andre Coudrain, Al Lippman, Dr. Eunice Smith, Carl Shetler, Bob Davidge, Winfred Sibille, Gordon Pugh (������ο��ƵS Chair), and Jessica Clarke (������ο��ƵS student member); a Nicholls faculty member selected by the Nicholls faculty senate; and three representatives from the community to participate as non-voting but active members of the process.

The current Nicholls president, Donald Ayo, announced his decision to retire after 20 years of service effective June 30, 2003. Nicholls’ institutional review will be conducted to provide a framework for the new university president.

A similar review was conducted last year of the University of Louisiana at Monroe (������ο��ƵM). That report yielded over 50 suggested improvements for the university for incoming president Dr. James Cofer who stated, “The review has enabled the new administration working with the faculty and staff to move forward without debating the necessity of the needed changes.”

Consultants for the ������ο��ƵM review met on campus and conducted interviews and focus groups with almost 300 persons including faculty, students, staff, alumni, elected/appointed officials, area residents, local business persons, members of the ������ο��ƵS Board, media representatives, benefactors, and potential benefactors, persons selected because of special knowledge, and randomly selected persons from the community.

“Because of the emotional attachment many of us have to our institution, we are often blinded even to its most glaring problems. It has been fortunate not only for me as a new president but for the institution as a whole to have the issues highlighted by an objective and reliable source,” said Cofer.

The Grambling review will consist of a six-person team led by Dr. James Fisher, the most published writer on leadership and organization in higher education today, President emeritus of Towson University in Maryland, and “the nation’s leading authority on the college presidency” commented Michael Worth of George Washington University. Fisher also served as chair for the ������ο��ƵM review.

Fisher’s team at Grambling will include Dr. Herman D. James, President Emeritus, Rowan University; Dr. James V. Koch, President Emeritus and Distinguished Professor of Economics, Old Dominion University; Dr. Scott D. Miller, President, Wesley College; Eddie N. Moore, Jr., President, Virginia State University; and Dr. Earl S. Richardson, President, Morgan State University.

The consulting team for Nicholls will be selected in the near future.

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For More Information Contact:
Catherine Heitman
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