Outside firm hired for higher ed search
Advocate (excerpt)

The Board of Regents has chosen a search firm to look for Louisiana's next higher education commissioner. The board, which governs public higher education in Louisiana, on Wednesday picked Greenwood/Asher & Associates Inc., a Florida-based company, to recruit candidates for the job.

Greenwood estimated the work will cost $105,500, but the final contract terms haven't been negotiated.

The Regents are looking to replace Sally Clausen, who left in July after receiving sharp criticism for quietly retiring from her job and then being rehired without ever telling the Regents. The board hopes to have a new commissioner chosen by December.

COMMENTARY BY C.B. FORGOTSTON: The LA Board of Regents has hired a firm from Florida for an estimated $105,500 to help them find a replacement for Sally Clausen as the next higher education commissioner. This is the same group that we hear whining about higher education needing more money. Perhaps if the Regents spent the public funds they already have in LA it would help generate more tax revenues to help better fund higher education. Obviously, the Regents believe that all the "best and brightest" have indeed left this state in order to find economic security. If Higher Education is the key (as we are told by them) to economic development in our state, the Regents seem to be admitting that they aren't doing their jobs very well. Don't we have anyone in Louisiana qualified to find someone to take one of the highest paying jobs in state government? The Regents must be getting public relations advice from the soon-to-be-former-head of BP, Tony Hayward.