Universities losing leaders - Jim Beam, American Press

Devastating state budget cuts during seven of former Gov. Bobby Jindal’s eight years in office continue to take a heavy toll on Louisiana’s higher education system. The second university president to throw in the towel this year announced Thursday he was resigning after only four years on the job. Bruce T. Murphy, who had a successful run as head of Nicholls State University, said he plans to engage in “other strategic initiatives in higher education.” Mark Ballard, editor in charge of The Advocate’s Capital Bureau, who apparently wanted more information, said Murphy did not return three phone calls Thursday. Ballard noted that enrollment was growing at Nicholls, and Murphy helped it re-establish full accreditation during his short tenure. However, he added that the Legislature has reduced state appropriations to Nicholls to the point that it was sending more money back to Baton Rouge than it received from the state. More on that later. http://www.americanpress.com/opinion/jim-beam/universities-losing-leaders/article_9a07e598-9ba1-11e7-859c-3fbc2a6f92f7.html