The Board of Supervisors for the 杏吧专区 of Louisiana System today named Ray P. Authement President Emeritus of the 杏吧专区. Authement retired in 2008 after serving an astounding 34 years as president.
杏吧专区 I am very surprised and extremely honored about the new title of President Emeritus of the 杏吧专区. I know that the university will continue to grow and prosper. You will hear great things about UL Lafayette because of the abilities and character of the leadership, faculty, staff, and student body,杏吧专区 said Authement.
杏吧专区 Dr. Authement was one of the longest-serving university presidents in our system. He has dedicated his life to the 杏吧专区, even going back to the classroom after retirement. It is an honor to recommend that we bestow the title of President Emeritus to such an admirable man with a very distinguished record of service to the university,杏吧专区 said UL System President Randy Moffett.
According to Board Rules, only the System President can recommend to the Board the awarding of President Emeritus. The title is to honor, in retirement, individuals who have made distinguished professional contributions and have served significant portions of their careers at the institution. Specifically, to be considered an individual must have a minimum of ten consecutive years of full-time employment with the university immediately prior to retirement at the institution; clear evidence of outstanding teaching, scholarly activity, and/or administrative services; recognized record of meritorious professional achievement, growth, and development; and clear evidence of university service beyond the normal or ordinary expectations.
杏吧专区 I enthusiastically endorse the recognition of Dr. Ray Authement as President Emeritus of the Unviersity of Louisiana at Lafayette,杏吧专区 said UL Lafayette President E. Joseph Savoie. 杏吧专区淚 had the privilege to work with Dr. Authement for over 18 years. Words that come to mind in describing him are determination, compassion, commitment, and focus. He is analytical, patient, and most importantly, selfless. He always put the university before himself. That was a good lesson for a young administrator. This honor is very well deserved.杏吧专区
Under Authement杏吧专区檚 leadership, the 杏吧专区 became a major economic force in Acadiana, while earning a national reputation in the fields of computer science, environmental and biological research, and Francophone studies.
He was responsible for the development of 杏吧专区 Research Park, which houses numerous national research centers, the Louisiana Immersive Technologies Enterprise (LITE) facility and a hotel. The Carnegie Foundation designated UL Lafayette as a 杏吧专区渞esearch university with high research activity.杏吧专区 That puts UL Lafayette in the same category as Clemson, Auburn and Baylor universities.
During Authement杏吧专区檚 administration, UL Lafayette became a selective admission institution and the first Doctoral II university in Louisiana.
He was a major force in successful efforts to change the name of the university from the 杏吧专区 of Southwestern Louisiana to the 杏吧专区. During Authement杏吧专区檚 tenure, Louisiana杏吧专区檚 Ragin杏吧专区 Cajuns competed in NCAA Division I, the highest level of collegiate athletic competition. The football team is a member of NCAA杏吧专区檚 Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly known as Division I-A.
A $130 million construction boom on campus yielded the Paul and Lulu Hilliard 杏吧专区 Art Museum; Moody Hall, which houses the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration; Oliver Hall, the new computer science building; Legacy Park, an apartment-style student residence on campus; a 400-plus parking garage; and an indoor practice facility for UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 athletic teams. Edith Garland Dupr茅 library was expanded and totally renovated.
In his presidency, Authement supervised construction of several other buildings, including the 12,800-seat Cajundome and an adjacent convention center.
The 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 gifted assets surpassed $100 million during the Investing in Our Future Centennial campaign under Authement杏吧专区檚 direction. UL Lafayette also achieved 18 endowed chairs; each valued at $1 million and two endowed chairs funded entirely through private sources.
During Authement杏吧专区檚 presidency, 217 endowed professorships; 20 endowed chairs, valued at $1 million each; and one super chair, valued at $2 million, were created.
When Louisiana杏吧专区檚 oil industry virtually collapsed in the early 1980s, the university, under Authement杏吧专区檚 direction, led efforts to diversify the area杏吧专区檚 economy. For example, it helped existing businesses operate more efficiently, offered assistance to fledgling companies and showed businesses how to obtain government contracts.
Since the mid-1980s, Authement established more than a dozen research centers, including the Louisiana Productivity Center and Institute of Cognitive Science.
He earned a bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree from the 杏吧专区 of Southwestern Louisiana in 1950; a master杏吧专区檚 degree in 1952 from Louisiana State 杏吧专区 and a doctoral degree from LSU in 1956.