UNO leaves LSU, joins UL system

The University of New Orleans’ transfer from the LSU System to the University of Louisiana System became official Tuesday.

The switch was finalized once it was approved by the accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, after the move was first initiated by state legislation in June.

The change also comes three days before the UL System Board of Supervisors selects a new UNO president.

The two finalists for the job are LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans professor Peter Fos and Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne Chancellor Michael Wartell. Fos also is the program director of health policy and systems management.

Fos and Wartell will interview Friday morning with the UL System Board with a final selection made afterwards.

UNO’s addition to the UL System gives it eight universities, including the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Southeastern Louisiana University.

“Moving to the UL System is something that many believed would be instrumental in UNO becoming the best institution it can be, and we are excited that we are now a member,” said UNO interim Chancellor Joe King in a prepared statement. “We have worked closely with the leadership at the system for the past several months, and we are certain that our coordinated efforts will lead to success in the coming years.”

The system transfer started out as a proposal by Gov. Bobby Jindal to merge UNO with Southern University at New Orleans. Once that plan fell through in the Legislature, House Speaker Jim Tucker, R-Terrytown, amended the legislation to make it just the UNO transfer.

Tucker, who is a UNO graduate, and others argued that his alma mater was overshadowed by the flagship LSU campus and mistreated by the LSU System.