After a number of twists and turns – not to mention tense trustee sessions, emotional displays, protests and one lawsuit – Louisiana College has a new president.
C. Lacy Thompson
LBM Associate Editor
After a number of twists and turns – not to mention
tense trustee sessions, emotional displays, protests and one lawsuit –
Louisiana College has a new president.
School trustees voted in the early morning of
January 18 to elect Joe Aguillard, 48, as the new leader for the
college. Aguillard previously served as chair of the Louisiana College
Division of Education.
Aguillard proclaimed himself ready to serve and lead the college to unprecedented heights of achievement.
“I am ready to lead and sacrifice, … to serve God
(at Louisiana College),” he told trustees prior to their vote.
“There is no limit to what the Lord can do for this college,” he said after the vote was announced.
Even Aguillard has acknowledged the hand of God –
along with a commitment to open and honest communication – will be
needed to move the school past some of the conflict it has experienced
in the past year or so.
In some ways, that conflict came to a head last week
as trustees gathered for an almost eight-hour session to consider
Aguillard’s candidacy. The presidential vote did not come until 1 a.m.
The announcement came about 30 minutes later.
It began with 300 or more students, faculty and
Louisiana College friends out in force, displaying signs of support and
opposition to Aguillard.
It ended eight hours later with 75 or more persons
still present, crowded into a meeting room to hear announcement of the
presidential vote.
The news was greeted with loud applause and some shouts from supporters of the new president.
Later, Louisiana College trustee Chair Tim Johnson
of Choudrant said he had utmost confidence in Aguillard and his ability
to lead the Louisiana Baptist school. “Not only does Dr. Aguillard have
the head for education, but his heart is definitely intertwined with
LC,” Johnson said.
Challenges ahead
The challenges the new president faces are many –
including opposition by some to his election, addressing accreditation
concerns and moving the Louisiana Baptist school beyond a generally
tumultuous, emotional year.
It began last March, when then-President Rory Lee
announced plans to resign from his post at the end of May. A search
committee was formed according to school bylaws, consisting of the
seven members of the trustee executive committee (three officers and
four trustee committee chairs), a student representative and a faculty
representative.
From the start, the committee faced challenge from
trustees who favored an Aguillard presidency and were convinced the
school educator would not get a fair hearing.
Support for Aguillard was clear. Even as the search
process began, trustees met in closed-door session to elect an interim
president. The vote came down to a contest between Aguillard and John
“Bud” Traylor of Monroe, a retired pastor and member of the college
board of trustees at the time. (With Aguillard’s election, Traylor
returns to his trustee post.)
Traylor was selected and vowed to work to unite the school and its constituents during his tenure.
The search ensued.
Meanwhile, the college was facing other problems,
including an early September visit from members of the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools, the college’s accrediting agency.
The visiting team spent time on campus to investigate reported matters
of concern regarding academic freedom and recent actions by school
trustees.
That same month, the search committee made a
proposal, offering two nominees to the board of trustees – a number one
candidate and a number two candidate.
Trustees pursued the first person – Southwestern
Baptist Theological Seminary professor and administrator Malcolm
Yarnell. Days later, Yarnell was elected by trustees on a split vote –
reportedly about a two-to-one margin.
Following the vote, trustees agreed unanimously to support the new president in his endeavors.
All seemed set.
But it was not so. Unknown to many Louisiana
Baptists, Yarnell had yet to agree to a contract. Indeed, negotiations
between himself and the board quickly bogged down.
Meanwhile, in October, the visiting accreditation
team issued its report, finding fault with how the school had been
functioning. Specifically, the team cited concerns about academic
freedom at the school and the need for clear lines of responsibility
for trustees, faculty and administrators.
Traylor and other school leaders immediately began
working on a plan of action to address the concerns, submitting that
proposal to the accrediting agency in November.
As for Yarnell, a week after being introduced to
messengers at the annual Louisiana Baptist Convention, he withdrew his
name from consideration as school president.
That set off a flurry of activity as college
trustees met in early December to decide how to proceed with the search
for a presidential successor to Lee. That meeting came even as trustees
learned the college had been placed on probation for one year to
address the stated accrediting concerns.
The decision on how to proceed with the search process was not an easy one for trustees.
Members of the original search committee insisted
that a second nominee already was on the table, having been presented
in September along with Yarnell.
However, others disagreed, saying that committee had
completed its work with the election of Yarnell and calling for
formation of a new committee.
Trustees eventually decided to form a blended search
committee, consisting of the original group and the board’s new
executive committee – seated in December after the election of several
new trustees at the state convention.
As soon as that action was taken, a motion was made
for trustees to consider Aguillard immediately for election as
president. Trustees entered into executive session to consider the
matter and eventually agreed to refer the Aguillard recommendation to
the blended committee, with instructions that Aguillard was to be
considered first and a report on his nomination was to be brought to
the full board.
The blended committee met in early January – at
least part of it. By that time, all but the student representative from
the original committee had decided it was a violation of school bylaws
to proceed with the search in such a fashion.
They all declined to serve on the blended committee, insisting the original group remained in force.
The committee members who met interviewed Aguillard
and voted to recommend him as president, apparently with only one in
opposition.
As news of that action became known, reaction ensued.
Louisiana College faculty members voted 53-12 to oppose election of
Aguillard as president. Supporters and critics of Aguillard’s selection
began to write letters to the Baptist Message to bolster their cases.
LBC President Philip Robertson of Deville sent an e-mail to all
Louisiana Baptist pastors, asking them to commit to a day of prayer and
fasting on the day of the trustee meeting. In addition, a lawsuit was
filed in Alexandria, asking the courts to rule that Louisiana College
trustees had violated their own bylaws in the way they proceeded with
the search.
The stage was set for the January 17 called meeting.
A long evening
The called session was attended by 30 trustees.
Ordinarily, the board consists of 34 voting members – 33 sitting board
members and the state convention president. However, at this time,
there are two vacancies on the board. In addition, two board members
were not present for last week’s session – John Jeffries of Chalmette
and Kent Aguillard of Eunice. As brother of the newly-elected
president, the latter had pledged not to be involved in the session.
In addition to trustees, some 300 or more faculty,
students, alumni and others were present, complete with signs and
obvious opinions. Hand-painted signs carried by some offered various
views – “No to Joe,” “Bylaws aren’t meant to be broken,” “Joe Joe Joe
Joe Joe Joe.”
In addition, a number of people wore small
pre-printed yellow cardboard badges that proclaimed – “Louisiana
College Board – YES. Aguillard – YES.”
In addition to trustees and observers, others
included in the meeting were new Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive
Director David Hankins, board attorney Joe Bertrand of Metairie and
certified parliamentarian Alan Jennings of Baton Rouge. All three of
those persons were to remain in the meeting even during closed-door
discussions.
Just prior to the meeting, Johnson, as trustee
chair, distributed copies of a parliamentary opinion regarding the
process followed by trustees in establishing the blended committee. The
report had been prepared earlier but was not given to trustees or the
media until that time.
The six-page opinion was drafted by Jennings, who is
not a Louisiana Baptist but is a professional registered
parliamentarian and has served as parliamentarian at the state’s annual
meetings since 2000.
In the opinion, Jennings concluded that formation of
the blended group was appropriate – although it cannot be considered a
search committee. Instead, it operates as an ad hoc committee charged
with qualifying a board nominee for president and bringing a report
back to trustees.
“The board is not asking the committee to submit a
nomination,” Jennings explained. “It is asking the committee to qualify
an existing nominee and report to the board.”
At the same time, Jennings noted that any other trustees could bring nominees for president as well.
The opinion notwithstanding, as the trustee meeting
opened, Fred Malone of Clinton asked that the board chair rule the
blended committee out of order.
Johnson declined to do so – and Malone challenged that ruling, meaning trustees would vote on the matter.
Brief discussion ensued with some trustees arguing
that the established process had not been followed and that trustees
should consider the second nominee presented by the original search
committee in September.
Others urged trustees to support the chair, noting
that the Jennings opinion shows the blended committee had been
legitimately established.
Trustees subsequently voted 18-9 to support the ruling by Johnson and
proceed with consideration of the report from the blended committee.
Craig James of Jena presented the report, moving
that Aguillard be elected to assume office immediately and that he be
presented with the same contract proposed for Yarnell – five years with
an annual salary of $125,000 and a total package of $165,000.
The floor then was opened to additional nominations.
Original search committee member Tommy Middleton of
Baton Rouge said he had not been aware additional nominee rocess was
not an easy one for trustees.
Members of the original search committee insisted
that a second nominee already was on the table, having been presented
in September along with Yarnell.
However, others disagreed, saying that committee had
completed its work with the election of Yarnell and calling for
formation of a new committee.
Trustees eventually decided to form a blended search
committee, consisting of the original group and the board’s new
executive committee – seated in December after the election of several
new trustees at the state convention.
As soon as that action was taken, a motion was made
for trustees to consider Aguillard immediately for election as
president. Trustees entered into executive session to consider the
matter and eventually agreed to refer the Aguillard recommendation to
the blended committee, with instructions that Aguillard was to be
considered first and a report on his nomination was to be brought to
the full board.
The blended committee met in early January – at
least part of it. By that time, all but the student representative from
the original committee had decided it was a violation of school bylaws
to proceed with the search in such a fashion.
They all declined to serve on the blended committee, insisting the original group remained in force.
The committee members who met interviewed Aguillard
and voted to recommend him as president, apparently with only one in
opposition.
As news of that action became known, reaction ensued.
Louisiana College faculty members voted 53-12 to oppose election of
Aguillard as president. Supporters and critics of Aguillard’s selection
began to write letters to the Baptist Message to bolster their cases.
LBC President Philip Robertson of Deville sent an e-mail to all
Louisiana Baptist pastors, asking them to commit to a day of prayer and
fasting on the day of the trustee meeting. In addition, a lawsuit was
filed in Alexandria, asking the courts to rule that Louisiana College
trustees had violated their own bylaws in the way they proceeded with
the search.
The stage was set for the January 17 called meeting.
A long evening
The called session was attended by 30 trustees.
Ordinarily, the board consists of 34 voting members – 33 sitting board
members and the state convention president. However, at this time,
there are two vacancies on the board. In addition, two board members
were not present for last week’s session – John Jeffries of Chalmette
and Kent Aguillard of Eunice. As brother of the newly-elected
president, the latter had pledged not to be involved in the session.
In addition to trustees, some 300 or more faculty,
students, alumni and others were present, complete with signs and
obvious opinions. Hand-painted signs carried by some offered various
views – “No to Joe,” “Bylaws aren’t meant to be broken,” “Joe Joe Joe
Joe Joe Joe.”
In addition, a number of people wore small
pre-printed yellow cardboard badges that proclaimed – “Louisiana
College Board – YES. Aguillard – YES.”
In addition to trustees and observers, others
included in the meeting were new Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive
Director David Hankins, board attorney Joe Bertrand of Metairie and
certified parliamentarian Alan Jennings of Baton Rouge. All three of
those persons were to remain in the meeting even during closed-door
discussions.
Just prior to the meeting, Johnson, as trustee
chair, distributed copies of a parliamentary opinion regarding the
process followed by trustees in establishing the blended committee. The
report had been prepared earlier but was not given to trustees or the
media until that time.
The six-page opinion was drafted by Jennings, who is
not a Louisiana Baptist but is a professional registered
parliamentarian and has served as parliamentarian at the state’s annual
meetings since 2000.
In the opinion, Jennings concluded that formation of
the blended group was appropriate – although it cannot be considered a
search committee. Instead, it operates as an ad hoc committee charged
with qualifying a board nominee for president and bringing a report
back to trustees.
“The board is not asking the committee to submit a
nomination,” Jennings explained. “It is asking the committee to qualify
an existing nominee and report to the board.”
At the same time, Jennings noted that any other trustees could bring nominees for president as well.
The opinion notwithstanding, as the trustee meeting
opened, Fred Malone of Clinton asked that the board chair rule the
blended committee out of order.
Johnson declined to do so – and Malone challenged that ruling, meaning trustees would vote on the matter.
Brief discussion ensued with some trustees arguing
that the established process had not been followed and that trustees
should consider the second nominee presented by the original search
committee in September.
Others urged trustees to support the chair, noting
that the Jennings opinion shows the blended committee had been
legitimately established.
Trustees subsequently voted 18-9 to support the
ruling by Johnson and proceed with consideration of the report from the
blended committee.
Craig James of Jena presented the report, moving
that Aguillard be elected to assume office immediately and that he be
presented with the same contract proposed for Yarnell – five years with
an annual salary of $125,000 and a total package of $165,000.
The floor then was opened to additional nominations.
Original search committee member Tommy Middleton of
Baton Rouge said he had not been aware additional nominees could be
presented, and thus, he was not allowed the opportunity to have a
candidate present – as Aguillard was.
Original search committee Chair Ed Tarpley of
Pineville noted he had received news of being able to present another
nominee only two days earlier.
At that point, Rick Aultman of Mangham proposed
then-interim President John Traylor for the position, setting up a
contest between the same two persons who had been considered for the
interim position just nine months earlier.
Both nominees were allowed to address the board with all of the observers present.
Aguillard spoke first, recounting his long
history with Louisiana College – the school where his parents met,
where his siblings attended, where he attended and met his wife, where
his children have attended.
He also spoke of the importance of the trustee
session, paying homage to those who had gathered to express their
views. The common point all of the trustees and observers share is that
they love Louisiana College, he said.
At the same time, Aguillard acknowledged the college was engaged in a civil war of sorts.
“We are on that battlefield tonight,” he said. “It has risen to a level this college has not seen before.”
Unfortunately, those engaged in the battle are too
busy shouting to listen to one another, Aguillard noted. “We love each
other too much, and we must show that love,” he said.
Aguillard urged persons to consider what they are
doing – and whether it matters for eternity. He also insisted that he
wants to come to know all persons involved.
If elected, he pledged to help bring Louisiana
College to its highest-ever levels in academic achievement and to reach
out to all 1,600 Louisiana Baptist churches around the state.
Aguillard dismissed the idea that he would lead the
school to become a Bible college or seminary. “This will be the finest
liberal arts college this state has ever seen,” he insisted.
He also rejected the idea that he would be a puppet
president. “I would not have taken the abuse I’ve taken these last few
months for any individual – save him,” he said in reference to Christ.
As he had elsewhere, Aguillard again pledged to lead
the college to a day when its dormitories and coffers are full and
tuition is lower. But that only can happen as the college community
comes together and looks to God, he added.
That is the vision he seeks to pursue, Aguillard concluded to the applause of supporters in the room.
In his comments, Traylor echoed the idea of the importance of the trustee session.
“The key issue tonight is really very simple –
whether it is the wisdom of God to elect as a president someone who is
so divisive or whether it is better to go to someone … who will not
bring divisive baggage,” Traylor told trustees.
He acknowledged he was not seeking to be a long-term president and only
had agreed to serve as interim to be a catalyst for understanding,
togetherness and trust.
“We’ve made great strides,” he said.
Traylor said he would prefer trustees to elect
someone who stands above the current conflict – “who’s not divisive,
who’s not controversial, who can be a uniter.”
If elected, he said he would continue to seek to be
a catalyst for understanding, togetherness and trust and would continue
to work toward bringing the school back into full compliance with the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
“Here is the heart of it – where is the wisdom of
God? …” Traylor told trustees of their presidential choice.
“So, like Jesus, we commend ourselves to God. You decide,” he concluded to applause from onlookers.
Trustees then entered into executive session to interview both candidates and debate their election.
A lengthy closed-door session ensued.
Trustees first heard a brief minority report from
David Stokes, the student representative on the blended committee that
recommended Aguillard. In his comments, Stokes said he cited concerns
about Aguillard from the perspectives of students, faculty and some
trustees.
Trustees then interviewed Aguillard – for two hours and 40 minutes, not ending that session until 10:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, observers of the proceedings mingled in
the building hallways, gathering at one point to watch the local
evening news report of the trustee proceedings thus far. Others spent
some time in nearby Guinn Auditorium praying for the closed-door
proceedings.
Following the session with Aguillard, trustees
interviewed Traylor for almost an hour before launching into more than
an hour of discussion. A secret ballot vote was taken shortly prior to
1 a.m. on the matter, with trustees asked to indicate in writing which
nominee they preferred.
A new leader
After tabulating the vote and reporting to the
nominees behind closed doors, trustees invited observer back into the
meeting room at 1:30 a.m. It was announced Aguillard had been elected,
with the news greeted by enthusiastic applause and shouts from
supporters of the school professor.
The margin of the presidential vote was not
announced at the time, but subsequent news reports indicated it was
17-13, a tally confirmed by Baptist Message sources as well.
Johnson then announced that following their
presidential election, trustees had voted unanimously to “join in
prayerful support for Dr. Aguillard and Louisiana College.”
Aguillard said he was “very humbled” by the
election. He pledged to act with integrity to address all the issues he
had presented earlier. He urged others to join him in that task.
Indeed, Aguillard said he prays that all members of
the Louisiana College community will be able to see the vision God has
for the school and work toward its “grand success.”
He vowed to serve sacrificially to bring everyone in
the college community together. “We are asking all of our constituent
partners to come together in peace and support of (Louisiana College),
…” he added later.
“Louisiana College stands in a unique position as an
academic and spiritual ‘Louisiana Treasure,’” Aguillard continued.
“With the full support of our alumni and Southern Baptist churches, our
beloved (Louisiana College) will continue to grow in value as a
gleaming treasure chest of opportunity for our children across the
state.”
Johnson insisted Aguillard is the man to lead to
fulfillment of the vision. “Dr. Aguillard is a top-notch educator who
is theologically sound,” he said. “He has the ability to help us
effectively address the (accreditation) situation and lead us to
satisfying all of their requests. We, as a board, prayerfulyl support
Dr. Aguillard, the faculty, staff and students of LC.”
Johnson said there will be no repeat of contract
negotiations as occurred with Yarnell – indeed, Aguillard already has
agreed to sign the standard, five-year contract offer.
He also said he has no concern about unifying the
board now that the divisive search process is concluded. The number one
priority now is the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
accreditation report, he said.
Indeed, the day after Aguillard’s election, 20
trustees gathered for a scheduled meeting with a pair of consultants
regarding accreditation concerns. In areport in the Alexandria Town
Talk, Johnson said that the session was encouraging and that the board
was committed to following the accreditation steps outlined during the
session.
Still, concerns remain.
For one, Aguillard now must win over a faculty
largely opposed to his presidency, something he was not able to do when
he was a fellow professor.
At this point, many faculty members are depressed
about the outcome of the vote, reports indicate. They say the mood was
not helped last week when a faculty gathering was addressed by one of
the accrediting consultants following Aguillard’s election – Bob Agee
from the Association of Southern Baptist Colleges and Schools.
Following that session, several faculty members said
they got the impression Agee was saying they simply need to accept the
new situation and focus on students.
In addition to that concern, there remains a lawsuit
brought by 10 persons, including former LC Vice President for Academic
Affairs Stan Lott and retired LC Religion Department Chair Carlton
Winbery, who served as the faculty representative on the original
presidential search committee.
The suit asks the courts to rule that Louisiana
College trustees violated their bylaws in the search process and to
direct the board to “to fill the position of president of Louisiana
college from a candidate nominated by the original, nine-member
presidential search committee.”
The suit is pending – and trustees have hired an Alexandria attorney to handle the matter as it proceeds.
Still, Aguillard comes to the president’s office
with an awareness of the problems areas and with familiarity of the
school and its constituents.
He graduated from Louisiana College in 1977 and then
went on to earn a pair of master degrees – in
administration/supervision and guidance and counseling – from McNeese
State University in Lake Charles. Aguillard also received a doctor of
education degree in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern
University in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
As for work experience, Aguillard was involved in
parish school administration in from 1977 to 2000. Almost all of that
time was spent in the Beauregard Parish school system – as a teacher,
assistant principal, guidance counselor, instructional supervisor,
director of personnel, assistant superintendent and superindent of the
board for two years.
As superintendent from 1998 to 2000, Aguillard was
responsible for overseeing 6,220 students in 12 schools, 1,300
employees and an annual budget of $43 million.
At points, Aguillard also served as adjunct
professor at McNeese State University and as a site administrator for
the national doctoral program for educational leaders for Nova
Southeastern University.
In 2000, Aguillard joined the Louisiana College
faculty as chair of the Division of Education, coordinator of the
Department of Teacher Education and associate professor of education.
Since then, the department has emerged as a national leader in terms of
growth, he said. In addition, the popular teacher education program has
received high marks from the Louisiana board of regents and others.
At Louisiana College, Aguillard also led a group of
students in researching and writing a curriculum for the Heart of Spain
art exhibit in Alexandria in 2003. The curriculum was used by teachers
and students around the world.
In addition, Aguillard helped develop a master of
arts in teaching proposal for Louisiana College. The plan did not gain
initial approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
but still can be resubmitted.
Aguillard has taught at the school as well and earned Teacher of the Year honors for the 2003-04 school year.
Aguillard is a longtime member at Dry Creek Baptist
Church in Dry Creek, where he has served in various capacities,
including as minister of music/worship for 26 years.