Louisiana Tech President Jim Henderson will step down Thursday, months earlier than planned. Henderson announced last month that he would leave at the end of the year, citing health reasons. But his departure also comes amid frustration over the UL System Board’s decision not to approve faculty pay raises. USA Today Network political reporter Greg Hilburn says Henderson sent a letter to faculty earlier this month criticizing the system board.
“That peeved the board, who sent their own letter to faculty questioning Henderson’s fiscal responsibility. So there’s been some back-and-forth and speculation and friction between the two,” Hilburn said.
Hilburn says Henderson’s last day on the job is the same day that the UL System will have its next board meeting.
“There had been some speculation that after the friction between the president and the board, that someone on the board might advance a motion to have him leave early rather than have him retire at the end of the year,” Hilburn noted.
Hilburn reports that Dickie Crawford, Tech’s current executive vice president for student affairs, will serve as acting president. The UL System Search Committee is accepting applications until November sixth from individuals who are interested in becoming the school’s next president. Hilburn says State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley has been rumored as a possible replacement to Henderson.
“It’s my understanding that Superintendent Brumley will apply for the job; that’s he is possibly favored by the governor,” Hilburn said.
The UL System is looking to have a new president in place on January 1st.
