SU System begins search for new SUBR Chancellor

Southern University System President Dr. Ralph Slaughter will be spear heading the search for a new chancellor on the Baton Rouge campus.
According to a press release on January 15th, Slaughter plans to hold a national search in order to find the best candidate for the position.
“I welcome and look forward to identifying and bringing dynamic, visionary individuals with proven records of leadership and excellence in academic and administrative affairs to head this campus,” said Slaughter.
Slaughter will have help in the selection process. He is forming a search committee, which will include representatives of the faculty, staff, student body, administration and alumni. Community representatives will aide in the process as well.
The preferred qualifications for the position are listed on the system website (chancellorsearch.sus.edu). These items include such factors as five to seven years of previous experience and a doctorate degree. However, some students’ qualifications were slightly different.
“I think the new chancellor should be at our activities, like Jackson (Edward Jackson, SU’s former chancellor); you saw him at the comedy show; you saw him at our homecoming activities. He was the person who, if you saw him around campus, you could go up and talk to him. He was interactive,” said Brittney Leonard, sophomore biology major from Lakewood, Calif.
Sakawa Baylor, a freshman mechanical engineer major from Dallas, felt that being personable and experienced should be key elements in the chancellor’s qualifications.
“I think the new chancellor should have leadership skills. I think that he (or she) should try to have a couple of meetings per month so everyone can let him know what’s going on around campus,” said Baylor.
When asked about issues the new chancellor should tackle once in office, students gave an array of topics including better facilities, declining enrollment, better drainage systems and better roads.
According to an article on the WAFB website, Margaret Ambrose, who has been interim chancellor since May 2007, decided not to comment about her stance in applying for the chancellor position.
However, Ambrose is trying to tackle the issue of Southern’s declining enrollment; she has already begun developing a university wide retention plan.
Applications for the position must be received by Feb. 28; however, nominations need to be submitted by February 14th.
According the system website, the anticipated date of employment of the new chancellor is July 1. There is a complete timeline on the site, which lists expected dates for committee meetings and deadlines for narrowing the search.
Responsibilities of the chancellor are also outlined on the website. These include but are not limited to the following:
1. The chancellor is responsible for reviewing and approving academic programs.
2. The chancellor must approve standards for admitting and retaining students.
3. The chancellor shall assist in recruitment of students, faculty and staff members.
4. The chancellor shall have the responsibility for developing and implementing educational, administrative and fiscal policies, procedures and programs for the campus, consistent with the policies of the Southern University System.
5.The chancellor is responsible for recommending to the president appropriate personnel action appointments, promotions, transfers, suspensions, dismissals and other for faculty, staff and administrators for his campus.
If you have any questions concerning the chancellor search, visit chancellorsearch.sus.edu.