Tate out at LSU
ALSO: So is their Provost!
Sorry for the late edition today. I heard yesterday that Tate might be named President of Rutgers this morning and wanted to include that in the newsletter. Also, if you’re my editor reading this, I’m writing this on my lunch break!
LSU President William Tate has been named the next leader of Rutgers University in New Jersey, becoming the most notable in a string of abrupt, high-profile departures from Louisiana’s flagship public university.
The Rutgers Board of Trustees unanimously confirmed Tate’s appointment Monday. He will begin his new job at the university July 1. His last day at LSU will be June 30.
LSU spokesman Todd Woodward said an interim president will be announced Monday.
Tate is the fourth administrator to leave LSU’s main campus this year. He follows the abrupt departures of General Counsel Winston DeCuir and Chief Administrative Officer Kimberly Lewis, who were two of the highest-ranking Black administrators at LSU. Provost Roy Haggerty also made his exit recently.
In addition, LSU Health Shreveport Chancellor David Guzick resigned under pressure and has taken a new role in the LSU System.
Tate’s departure had been rumored for weeks amid discussions of splitting the roles of LSU System president and Baton Rouge campus chancellor, which were combined in 2012.
LSU saw major growth in enrollment and research spending during Tate’s time at LSU. As Tate sought to boost research expenditures for his long-shot bid to join the prestigious American Association of Universities, spending on research grew from less than $300 million in the 2020-21 academic year to more than $500 million in 2023-24, the most recent year with data available.
Though Tate’s hiring as LSU’s first Black president — the first at any Southeastern Conference University — was met with much fanfare, his tenure has been highly criticized for his stances on race and gender.
Quote of the week:
"For the last four years of my life, I absolutely, absolutely, without question, never ever thought I would have red on my chest again," LSU President William Tate told the Rutgers board of Trustees as he accepted their presidency job Monday morning.
LSU Provost heads to Oregon State
LSU Provost Roy Haggerty is leaving the university to accept the same position at Oregon State, where he previously taught and served as a dean.
The provost’s position is the highest ranking role on campus for an academic, in many instances second in command to the president.
LSU President William Tate thanked Haggerty for his service in a campuswide email announcing his departure. Haggerty’s departure was confirmed to the Illuminator last month by LSU Board of Supervisors member Rémy Starns.
What I’m reading
International college students bring billions to the US. Here's why that may change. By Zach Schermele | USA Today
Confidential ethics complaints against Louisiana officials, gov’t workers might be eliminated By Julie O’Donoghue | Louisiana Illuminator
EPA announces rollback for some Biden-era limits on ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water By Michael Phillis | Associated Press
The House Settlement Has Thrown High School Athletes Into Crisis By Amanda Christovich | Front Office Sports
FDA moves to take prescription fluoride drops and tablets for kids off the market By Erika Edwards | NBC News
Can schools pay international athletes? An ex-LSU guard's lawsuit is raising the question. By Reed Darcey | Times-Picayune
Trump tried to fire Corporation for Public Broadcasting board members. Then came DOGE By Stephen Fowler | NPR
Rural Louisiana families have fewer options to use private school grants: 'No opportunities here By Patrick Wall & Jeff Addison | Times-Picayune
Weather modification bills, fueled by ‘magic’ and conspiracy theories, advance in Louisiana By Elise Plunk | Louisiana Illuminator
Legislature punts on NIL tax breaks
Louisiana lawmakers have pumped the brakes on exempting college athletes’ name, image and likeness compensation from income taxes as they work to approve a lean state budget.
Two legislators who filed bills to exempt NIL payments from income taxes have said they will not pursue votes on their legislation, citing perception issues with giving well-paid student-athletes a tax break while tightening the belt on critical state services.
“It didn’t seem like there was an appetite for creating a new deduction,” Rep. Rashid Young, D-Homer, said. “It’s partly perception and then partly real dollars.”
Young’s House Bill 168 would have exempted the first $12,500 of student-athletes’ NIL income from state taxes. It would have aligned the exemption with the standardized deduction offered to every other Louisiana resident. It’s not clear if this legislation is necessary for the athletes to receive the deduction, but Young said he wanted to make sure they get it.
House Bill 166 by Rep. Dixon McMakin, R-Baton Rouge, would have exempted the entirety of an athlete’s NIL income from state taxes.
Both lawmakers said they would consider bringing back the legislation depending on the outcome of a study on name, image and likeness deals that lawmakers will undertake.
Young’s House Resolution 15 will create an NIL task force that will bring together lawmakers, college athletics officials, student-athletes and private business to discuss related issues and make recommendations to the legislature. Additional proposals are expected next year.
Young said he hoped to get more transparency on athletes’ NIL compensation. Louisiana laws exempt information related to NIL deals from public disclosure.
Fiscal analyses for the two bills note that Louisiana’s four higher education systems have 427 athletes with NIL deals worth a combined $17 million for the 2024-25 school year. Athletes are only required to report deals worth more than $600, meaning this is not a full picture of NIL compensation for Louisiana athletes.
Landry signs NIL executive order
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed an executive order Tuesday that aims to give colleges and universities legal cover to directly pay college athletes.
The order purports to prohibit the NCAA, an athletic conference or another organization with oversight of college athletics from taking action against Louisiana schools that directly compensate athletes, pay them for use of their name, image and likeness (NIL) or facilitate NIL deals for the athlete.
The order, similar to one Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed last year, would not allow schools to use state money to pay athletes.
While NCAA rules currently prohibit the paying of players, athletes are allowed to make money through NIL endorsement deals.
Landry’s order would become moot if Congress approves legislation to regulate NIL deals or if a settlement is finalized in a lawsuit against the NCAA over compensation owed to former college athletes who weren’t paid for use of their name, image or likeness. The settlement is expected to set the stage for revenue sharing with college athletes — and possibly pave the way for direct payments to them.
Lagniappe
Senate Retirement will discuss the higher ed retirement bill today at 3:30
The House of Representatives will discuss bills on TOPS and DEI, CRT today
Said anti-DEI, CRT bill was not referred to House Education for a hearing despite being substantially rewritten in a way that restricts curricula. It is to be determined if it will get an education hearing on the Senate side.