Amidst a torrent of state higher education budget cuts, Southeastern has lost another of its important faculty members. Dr. Jerald Ainsworth, dean of Research and Graduate studies, will be leaving Southeastern and taking a similar position at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, on Oct. 21. He has been with Southeastern for 2-1/2 years.
“My impetus for moving was prompted by instability for higher education funding in Louisiana, and by the lack of movement on the part of board of regents in relevance to low completion percentages and program duplication,” said Ainsworth.
Ainsworth is responsible for the administrative aspects of the graduate school process, from admissions to graduation and thesis to dissertations. His dealings are university-wide, and the more specific aspects of the graduate school programs are left to their respective departments.
“I oversee all of research relative to compliance with federal regulations and look for ways for the faculty to enhance and grow in that area,” said Ainsworth.
Dr. Ainsworth is a key member of the Southeastern faculty regarding its fight for research and graduate program funding, and a true believer that higher education should take priority in the state budget.
“All states have problems in this area, some are more proactive,” said Ainsworth. “When I worked in Mississippi, they were required to cut five percent from other budget areas before they could touch higher education and healthcare. In Louisiana, the cuts start at healthcare and higher education. It’s a difficult situation here in Louisiana, and I’m not sure they’re ready to change that.”
There’s no doubt that Southeastern’s research-based departments will suffer from the loss of Ainsworth.
“He’s got great vision, we were really excited to have him,” said Rick Miller, plant evolutionary biologist and associate professor of biological sciences.
“He was very supportive. There’s a core of people interested in research, and it’s not easy to do at a small university.
“We’re left behind to try to keep it going,” Miller said.
Southeastern is typically less associated with research than larger Louisiana universities such as LSU, but it is nonetheless viewed as an invaluable asset to the university by some faculty members.
Southeastern dedicated approximately half a percent of its total budgeted revenue to research for the 2010-11 school year, according to the revenue/expenditure chart available on the university website.
Outside funding for research comes by way of numerous state and federal grants that are applied for by specific departments each year.
“When I was hired by Dr. Crain, he had great vision about what he wanted. He wanted to head that direction, but we’ve been hit by huge financial situations that have caused a re-focusing as to what is priority,” Ainsworth said.
“There are a great group of dedicated faculty who want to grow and enhance graduate education and research on campus. I hope that given the current economic pressures, the university can find a way to sustain their efforts,” he said.
Ainsworth has a bachelor’s in biophysics from Delta State, and a Ph. D. in immunology from the University of Mississippi medical center.
He says that his decision to move was also influenced by an opportunity to work at a university which places more emphasis on medical research, his field of expertise, and by the opportunity to work with an old colleague of his who is now the provost at The University of Tennessee, Chattanooga.
Ainsworth decided to leave before the end of this semester because he see’s no point in waiting around.
“I’d be sitting like a duck without wings. It’s important to get out of the way so that Southeastern can do what they need to,” Ainsworth said.
In an announcement from Dr. Tammy Bourg, provost and vice president for academic affairs, Dr. Harry Laver, associate professor and graduate coordinator of history, will serve as interim director of graduate studies beginning Oct. 21, 2010.