Dear Faculty & Staff,
Happy New Year and welcome back to campus for the Spring 2009 semester.
On December 15th, the university received word from our System office that because of declining state revenues, higher education would receive a substantial reduction in our current year’s budget. This news was not a total surprise considering the faltering national economy and the significant decline in the price of oil which is a major source of state revenue.
Dear Faculty & Staff,
The final days of the fall semester are upon us. I would be remiss if I didn’t express my thanks to you for a wonderful first semester. Since I last emailed you, we’ve made progress on several important items including:
Strategic Plan
Dear Faculty & Staff,
Getting back to a normal routine this week has certainly been a welcome change. It is my sincere hope that you and your family were not too adversely affected by the recent storms. There are many families, including those of our students, who are still cleaning up and trying to get their lives and property back to normal. If you are dealing with staff members or students in such a situation, thank you for being as understanding as possible.
A Special Note of Gratitude
Dear Faculty & Staff,
Later this week the University of Louisiana System will hold its monthly meeting in Baton Rouge. I am emailing you today to keep you informed about agenda items that affect our university. I will seek the board’s approval to broaden the responsibilities and change the title for Dr. Steve Landry to Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. I will also request approval to name Dean Edward Pratt as Interim Vice President for Student Affairs.
Dear Faculty & Staff,
The Fall semester is underway and our students are back on campus. I know that you’ll join me in warmly welcoming them. Please take a few extra moments during the first weeks of the semester to assist our new students as they find their way around campus. Students should feel as though they are our first priority. After all, they are.
Dear Faculty & Staff,
Thank you for the wonderful welcome given to me and my family in our first week at UL. Each day, as I walk our campus and talk with students, faculty and staff, I grow increasingly excited about the strong foundation on which we can build. Your enthusiasm about UL’s future is inspiring, and I look forward to continuing our conversations and learning more about ways that together we can further advance the university.
