NEWS

JSU Interim President Rod Paige looks to cut expenses

Jimmie E. Gates
The Clarion-Ledger
Jackson State University Interim President Rod Paige talks to The Clarion-Ledger Editorial Board.

Interim Jackson State University President Rod Paige's main priority is to get the university's finances in order, which includes hiring a chief financial officer.

Paige, speaking to The Clarion-Ledger Editorial Board this week, said he is trying get his hands wrapped around issues at his alma mater, but the main financial issue is expenses exceed income at the approximately 9,000-student urban university.

"It's simple: The university's payables exceed the university's incomes and it leaves a gap, and because reserves have been spent down, there is no place to get resources to fill those gaps," Paige said. "So that leaves you with two options: reduce expenses or expand revenue in some way."

Paige said no decision has been made yet on reducing expenditures, but he said a review is underway of the benefit-to-cost ratio of Jackson State's auxiliary facilities, including the Downtown Jackson campus, the Madison campus, the Jackson Medical Mall office, the E-Center on Raymond Road in Jackson and the Walter Payton Wellness Center on the main campus.

Also, Paige didn't rule out possible job actions to reduce expenditures, but said it would be a last resort. "I'm not ready to rule anything off the table," Paige said, in response to a question.

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Paige said he is looking to hire a CFO to help with university finances, and should have an interim person in the position within two weeks. However, he believes it could take years to get the university finances in order.

But Paige said: "I'm optimistic it can and will be resolved."

However, it's uncertain whether financial issues will be resolved before Paige's interim term is up. The state College Board said at the time Paige was hired that the goal was to have a permanent president selected within seven months.

College Board spokeswoman Caron Blanton said the deadline for nominations for the Campus Search Advisory Committee was Tuesday, so an announcement on the members should be made soon.

Blanton said more than 200 nominations were received for the Campus Search Advisory Committee. She said the timetable is still the same five to seven months to select a JSU president.

The state College Board appointed Paige interim Jackson State University president on November 1 after Carolyn Meyers' resignation became effective. Meyers' resignation came after the College Board hired a firm to examine JSU's finances in the wake of dwindling cash reserves.

College Board officials said JSU's reserves had decreased from $37 million to $4 million since 2012. Meyers had been the university's president since January 2011.

MEYERS RESIGNS: JSU president resigns.

Meyers had said JSU has a plan to rebuild its cash reserves. In an earlier statement, she cited JSU's significant enrollment growth over the past few years and strategic investments in scholarships, housing, technology infrastructure and additional campus sites.

Paige, 83, a former U.S. secretary of education, graduated from Jackson State University and is also a former JSU football coach. The Monticello native helped implement the national No Child Left Behind program when he was education secretary from 2001 to 2005, during the President George W. Bush administration.

"This university is amazing to me in so many ways," Paige said. "I'm very amazed about its potential, spirit of the students, and the power of the programs."

​Some of Paige's other observations:

  • He said additional changes could be made in some positions. He said capable leadership skills should be valued. However, he praised the quality of the faculty and staff.
  • Student housing needs should be addressed.
  • He looks to work with Jackson Public Schools and the city of Jackson on programs.

Sen. Sollie Norwood, D-Jackson, calls Paige a highly qualified leader. Norwood is a Jackson State alumni.

Contact Jimmie E. Gates at 601-961-7212 or jgates@gannett.com . Follow him on Facebook and Twitter .