Nola.com June 30, 2014 Southern University names Flandus McClinton acting chancellor of Baton Rouge campus Flandus McClinton Jr. was approved as acting chancellor of the Baton Rouge campus on June 30, 2014. The Southern University Board of Supervisors named Flandus McClinton as interim chancellor of the Baton Rouge campus on Monday. McClinton was the only candidate made public when the Board of Supervisors went to executive session late Monday morning. Currently, McClinton serves as the vice chancellor for finance and administration. In that role, McClinton is responsible for the university's financial, physical and technology resources. The finance and administration office also oversees facilities operations, university police, purchasing and the comptroller's office. Critics, however, have reservations about the appointment, as he serves as vice chancellor for finance and administration. "The vice chancellor for finance and acting chancellor is a formula for disaster," SU Faculty Senate President Thomas Miller said Monday. Miller says he doesn't believe McClinton has the necessary academic background to be acting chancellor. McClinton is replacing former Chancellor James Llorens, who contract expired June 30. Two attempts to extend Llorens' contract failed earlier this year. "The board needs to appoint someone as interim chancellor for one year to get through our financial crisis," Miller said. McClinton will serve in both roles, but as of now, he will only receive his vice chancellor of finance salary. Pay adjustments for McClinton have not been had. It's unclear how long McClinton will serve in the interim role, but it will give the Baton Rouge campus a leader and time for the president and the Board of Supervisors to find a permanent chancellor. A national search is underway to find a chancellor for the Baton Rouge campus. However, some discussions on whether or not the board should combine the system president and Baton Rouge campus chancellor have taken place. After than an hour in executive session, board member Tony Clayton made a substitute motion to make Southern University System President Ron Mason the interim chancellor, until a permanent chancellor was put in place. That motion, however, failed in a 7-7 vote. Board members Calvin Braxton and Willie Hendricks were absent. If that were approved, Southern University would have, at least temporarily, operated under a similar model LSU adopted in October 2012. "We need someone to focus on the Baton Rouge campus," Albert Samuels, vice-president of the Faculty Senate and chair of political science department at SU. "It's not always good to do what other folks do." Samuels said LSU's move to combine its president and chancellor positions was easier to do because they don't face the same problems at SU. "LSU does not have declining enrolment or negative publicity to deal with," Samuels said. "We need someone with a singular Baton Rouge focus." McClinton earned his bachelor's degree in accounting from Southern University in 1971. Ten years later, McClinton earned his M.B.A from LSU. McClinton has worked at LSU since he graduated, serving in multiple roles, including account analyst, financial control officer, deputy comptroller, and more recently vice chancellor for finance and administration. "One of the main things we have concern about right now is finance and I've worked in the finance area for the last 15 years as vice chancellor," McClinton said. This past week, Southern University at Baton Rouge, Southern University Law Center and Southern University at Shreveport failed to meet the Louisiana GRAD Act requirements, which has put a stop to any plans of tuition increases. McClinton says that failing does affect the Baton Rouge campus and his office is working right to make sure the university has a balance budget for 2014-15 fiscal year. Going forward, McClinton says the university top priorities include budgetary matters, recruiting new students and retention and graduation rates. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2014meeting-form.html for the October 26-28, 2014 HBCU Library Alliance 6th Membership Meeting in Atlanta GA!