Joe W. Aguillard

Joe Wallace Aguillard
8th President of Louisiana College in Pineville, Louisiana
In office
January 19, 2005 – May 31, 2014
Preceded by Rory Lee
Succeeded by Argile Smith (interim, beginning August 1, 2014)

Aguillard becomes president emeritus, August 1, 2014.
2013-2014 salary $202,007[1]

Personal details
Born July 15, 1956
Basile in
Acadia and Evangeline parishes
Louisiana, USA
Nationality American
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Judy Collins Aguillard
Children Jill, Julie, and Jodie Aguillard
Residence Pineville, Rapides Parish, Louisiana
Alma mater Louisiana College

McNeese State University Nova Southeastern University

Religion Southern Baptist

Joe Wallace Aguillard (born July 15, 1956) is the eighth former president of the Southern Baptist-affiliated Louisiana College in Pineville, Louisiana.

Aguillard's recent tenure was shaken by a series of controversies that led to the call of a student strike against his administration. On March 27, 2014, it was reported that the LC trustees had asked Aguillard to resign but he did not do so.[2] On April 15, 2014, the trustees voted to name Aguillard as president emeritus beginning August 1, with Argile Smith, the associate dean of Christian ministry of the Caskey School of Divinity, tapped as the interim president, also effective on August 1 as well. Aguillard will remain as president until May 31, at which time Smith will for two months be the "president pro tempore" and then the interim president.[3] Aguillard will assist Smith in the transition of administration and may beginning in 2015 resume his former tenured professorship in the LC Graduate Teacher Education program.[4]


Background

Aguillard was born in Basile, a small town near Crowley on the border of Acadia and Evangeline parishes in South Louisiana, the son of Harry Aguillard (1918-1969)[5] and the former Helyn Greene, both graduates of Louisiana College. He confessed his faith in Jesus Christ at a young age in his local Baptist church.[6]

After graduation in 1974 from Basile High School, an entity of the Evangeline Parish School Board, Aguillard entered Louisiana College, where he completed in three years his Bachelor of Arts in the fields of English and communications. There, he met his future wife, the former Judy Collins. The couple has three children, Jill, Julie, and Jodie, all LC graduates.[6]

Aguillard earned Master of Education degrees in two fields: (1) Guidance/ Counseling and (2) Administration/Supervision from McNeese State University in Lake Charles in southwestern Louisiana. In 1989, he received a Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Aguillard is a former president of the organization, Deans of the Colleges of Education in Louisiana. In 2004, then Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco appointed Aguillard to the Blue Ribbon Commission on Education as the representative for higher education.[6]

In 2000, Aguillard joined the faculty as chairman of the LC education department.[7] In 2004, he was named "Outstanding Teacher of the Year" at LC.[6]

Prior to 2000, Aguillard was employed in DeRidder in southwestern Louisiana by the Beauregard Parish School Board, his last position there from 1999 to 2000 having been as the school superintendent. As he became superintendent, Aguillard attended a prayer rally called to seek spiritual help for Beauregard Parish schools. The gathering was hosted by then State Senator B. G. Dyess of Alexandria, a Baptist clergyman of many decades and an alumnus of Louisiana College.[8]

Aguillard is a member of the rural Philadelphia Baptist Church in Deville in eastern Rapides Parish. Several church members called for a "prayer walk" for Louisiana College on March 29, 2014, amid the buildup of opposition to President Aguillard's tenure.[9]

Presidential record

Aguillard was elected president by the LC board of trustees, effective January 19, 2005, to succeed Rory Lee, who became executive director of Baptist Children's Village, a statewide ministry based in Ridgeland, Mississippi, that provides group homes for children and spiritual counseling for families.[10][11] Aguillard had apparently not been the first choice of the trustees. Malcolm Beryl Yarnell, III (born 1962), a native of upstate New York and a scholar on the English Reformation who teaches at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas,[12] was first considered, but he bowed out citing "governance issues" at LC.[13] Aguillard was not formally inaugurated as president until March 2006.[6]

In the fall 2006, former U.S. President George Herbert Walker Bush accepted Aguillard's invitation to come to the campus to speak during the LC centennial ceremonies.[6]

In 2012, the Louisiana Baptist Convention granted approval to Louisiana College to seek $12 million in donations from member churches within the state as part of the institution's $50 million capital improvements program. The $12 million will be earmarked for improvements in student housing. Cottingham Hall, built in 1941, is marked for full renovation, roof, plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, and ventilation.[14]

Under Aguillard, LC is attempting to build a law school to be named for the Texas state legislator and judge, Paul Pressler, to be located in a former federal building in Shreveport in northwestern Louisiana.[15] Work on the law school continues, but no students have yet been admitted.[1]

Nor have plans been finished for the opening of the proposed LC medical school and film school.[1]

LC ended its fiscal year July 31, 2012, with a deficit of $1.3 million deficit; the institution spent $30.5 million during that time but collected only $29.2 million in revenues.[16]

Controversies involving Aguillard

Presidential politics and Obamacare

In February 2012, Louisiana College filed suit against the U.S. government to contest the federal directive that even religious institutions must include in their insurance coverage for employees the costs of contraceptives, sterilization, and drugs which induce abortions.[17]

The next month, Aguillard hosted a campaign event on the LC campus for former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Newt Gingrich, who was then seeking the Republican presidential nomination subsequently won by Mitt Romney of Massachusetts. During the rally, Aguillard claimed that he would "consider shutting down" Louisiana College if the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is implemented. The measure was signed into law by President Barack H. Obama on March 23, 2010, but did not immediately take effect. Aguillard continues to argue for repeal.[18] Aguillard, himself a Republican,[19] did not endorse Gingrich as his choice for the presidential nomination; a few days later he performed the same introductory honors for then U.S. Representative Ron Paul of Texas.[20] Another Republican contender, former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, spoke to LC students prior to the Louisiana primary election on the topic of "freedom, faith, and family."[21]

Accreditation under challenge

In December 2013, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools reaffirmed LC accreditation after two years of warning status. Sanctions were removed, and no further monitoring is required. A follow-up report is due c. 2017.[22]

In January 2014, Tommy French, the founding former pastor of Jefferson Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, was elected chairman of the LC board of trustees. French said that he intends to monitor the accreditation issue to "strengthen the college and every department. ... We’re staying on top of our accreditation. These new matters require constant attention."[23]

In March 2014, less than three months after the reaffirmation of LC's accreditation, SACS senior vice president and chief of staff Michael Johnson confirmed that the agency will "investigate" LC after college officials were accused of having submitted documents that contain forged signatures and other inconsistencies in its official reports.[24]

Calvinism on campus

Aguillard has been engaged in conflicts with various faculty members and administrators, at least three of whom were non-renewed in 2013[25] over what he calls the spread on the campus of Calvinism and its doctrine of unconditional election: "For Calvinism to advance, I had to be stopped. [The Calvinists] were the attackers ..." [26] Prior to the time of conflict, Aguillard in 2011 had a heart attack, open-heart surgery, and successful rehabilitation.[27][28]

Cason Foundation dispute

Another dispute centers on funding of the Caskey School of Divinity. The Cason Foundation, which had donated $5 million to LC to fund the school, announced that it will no longer financially support the college because of "actions of President Aguillard which we believe to be unethical and potentially illegal."[29] Edgar D. Cason and his wife, Flora Jean Caskey Cason, of Coushatta in Red River Parish, who established the foundation, informed LC trustees by letter on April 15, 2013, that the foundation was terminating its ties to LC. A probe conducted by a law firm in New Orleans claims that Aguillard had improperly diverted nearly $60,000 in divinity school donations to LC projects in Tanzania, Africa. A committee of five LC board members, however, defended Aguillard and maintain that he did not act improperly regarding the funds.[29] Cason, a wealthy timber operator, farmer, and cattleman, has supported conservative Republican candidates, including Santorum for President, and issues, such as the Louisiana Values Political Action Committee.[30] Cason questioned why the LC trustees did not permit him to address the board at its March meeting.[29]

In a private executive session of the trustees on March 18 and 19, 2013, two motions regarding Aguillard were defeated. One called for his outright removal; another proposed administrative leave. Aguillard submitted a statement to the Alexandria Daily Town Talk in which he declared the executive session to have been "productive. I am looking forward to leading Louisiana College into the best days God has prepared for us."[31]

It was subsequently revealed that the special committee of the trustees had voted four-to-three to clear Aguillard of wrongdoing regarding the diverted Cason funds. One of the dissenting votes was cast by Tony Perkins, a Republican former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives and the president of the Family Research Council. Perkins subsequently in an email to the Reverend Kris Chenier, the pastor of the Trinity Heights Baptist Church in Shreveport[32] and the chairman of the special LC panel, questioned why the committee had implied that the decision to clear Aguillard had been unanimous, rather than by the margin of a single vote.[33]

In March 2014, The Alexandria Town Talk reported that a taped recording from late May or early June 2012, released by former LC vice president Charles L. "Chuck" Quarles, indicates that Aguillard spoke personally with the Casons about the diversion of funds to the Tanzania project. On May 21, 2013, however, Aguillard told The Town Talk that he had not spoken to the Casons but had received confirmation from Quarles that the couple had agreed that some of the funds could be used for the Tanzania project. The Casons said that they will make no further comments about the dispute.[34]

Trustees reaffirm Aguillard, 2013

On April 30, 2013, the trustees in a special meeting called regarding the future of President Aguillard voted to retain him as president and laid spiritual hands over him. At first it was not disclosed how many of the thirty-four trustees were present for the special meeting or the breakdown of the vote, but the majority declared the matter closed for further consideration.[35] Subsequently, it was reported that board split sixteen-to-thirteen in Aguillard's favor, with five trustees absent or not voting.[36]

On May 1, 2013, Aguillard announced that a Baptist couple had anonymously donated $10 million to LC as a means of showing support for his leadership. It is the largest single donation ever to the institution.[37]

Timothy Johnson and Charles Quarles disputes

In July 2013, Timothy "Tim" Johnson, the outgoing LC vice president, dispatched a letter to the trustees in which he contends that Aguillard's anti-Calvinist stance is designed to "detract attention from the real problems” at the institution. According to Johnson, Aguillard developed "the political football of Calvinism. ... No concern for truth and integrity. In the process, good men and their families have been damaged while pastors and people all around our state know that Calvinism was not the issue."[38]

Johnson spent six years as executive vice president under Aguillard and was the chairman of the trustees in January 2005, when Aguillard was selected as president in a decision opposed by many LC faculty members. Johnson filed a whistleblower complaint with the trustees against Aguillard on February 5, 2013. He was notified on May 17 that his contract, which expired July 31, would not be renewed. Johnson said that he knew that he could lose his position when he filed the complaint but had thought the trustees would, in his words, "do the right thing". After leaving LC, Johnson has been a part-time pastor.[39]

On March 11, March 2014, Johnson filed a lawsuit in the Ninth Judicial District Court in Alexandria against LC and Aguillard for wrongful termination based on the whistleblower complaint. Johnson, who was paid $146,000 annually in salary and benefits, is seeking damages, court costs, and "general and equitable relief." Johnson in the suit lists Aguillard as his "joint employer", because, based on a released recording, Aguillard told an employee, who recorded the conversation: "I am the employer, and I sign your contract. You don't work for the college. The college ... is a place of work. The employer is me, and the employee is you."[40]

According to another part of the recording, Aguillard demands that all employees be fully loyal to him as the president of the institution because he "knows things nobody else knows" and is the "biblical authority" on the campus. Aguillard said loyalty to him is more essential than competency in a job description.[41]

Although most recordings used for news articles were edited files and small clips so that the entire context of conversations were not available.

Chuck Quarles, the former LC vice president who had also been the dean of the LC Caskey School of Divinity, had filed a whistleblower complaint against Aguillard on December 11, 2012, two months before Johnson's challenge. Quarles resigned at the end of the school year in 2013 and accepted a position as a professor of New Testament and biblical theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina.[39]


Dr. Tommy French, chairman of the Board of Trustees of Louisiana College has said, “It’s time to bring clarity, finality, and the absolute truth to the issues and hearsay surrounding Louisiana College. Our President, Dr. Joe Aguillard, has been vetted and completely exonerated. It’s time for the facts to come out to restore the reputation of Louisiana College, the Board of Trustees, and President Aguillard.

Following the Louisiana College Board of Trustees Investigative Committee and full Board of Trustees denials of his complaints against the President, Quarles immediately left the College for employment at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. It is unknown if the seminary is aware of all of the rejections of Quarles' complaints against the President.

After reviewing all of the evidence, Quarles’ complaint that the President created statements that were inaccurate regarding donor approval of funding for a future $10 Million Divinity School building, sharing that facility with the future Law School, and for funding the College’s mission work in Tanzania, Africa were denied. Further, Quarles stated that he never "personally heard the donor make a formal commitment to build the proposed facility", and "No such gift had been pledged." In addition, Quarles also complained that he had no knowledge of donor plans to support mission work in Tanzania, Africa, including stating that the donors never "approved use of their gift to underwrite an extension of the College in Tanzania."

Quarles' assertions were all rejected, with documentation provided by the College supporting the President’s innocence and multiple published statements made by Quarles himself to the College, media, and others which he attributed to the donors. But, he [Quarles] was, in fact, the person who made the numerous claims regarding the Divinity School and the African mission work. All of the groups examined Quarles' contradictory written statements to the College that include:

1. October 4, 2011 Quarles’ email, "[The donor] confirmed that they have changed their mind about previous 'no brick and mortar' commitment. They are willing to fund the facility that we need and want the overage given each year to go to such a facility. He asked us to put together architectural plans and rough estimates of building costs for November [7] meeting. Shall I contact [the architect] and get him moving forward or is that someone else's responsibility?"

2. October 4, 2011 Quarles' email, "[Donor] approved use of Caskey funds for me to take an exploratory trip to Tanzania. He wants a formal presentation on the Tanzania opportunity in November. When can we meet with [Tanzanian Missionary]? Would you like [secretary] to work to set up a meeting ASAP?"

3. November 3, 2011 Quarles' emailforward to President Aguillard:Subject: FW: LC Caskey School of Divinity-Conceptual drawings and Cost Estimate, [$10 million building with complete conceptual architectural renderings per Quarles' specifications]

4. November 4, 2011 Quarles' email: "Everything is planned and prepared for Monday [meeting with donors] with one exception. I haven't put together a formal proposal for Tanzania. I am thinking that the [donors] are slowly processing that opportunity and that a formal and detailed proposal would probably be premature. At this stage, I think that the critical thing is to explain why we are convinced that God is drawing us to a focused ministry in Tanzania, both as a college and a Divinity School. My thought is that you can discuss the history of the relationship and why the ministries of our college in general are needed and I can speak specifically about the need for theological training."

5. December 9, 2011, Quarles' email: "The Donor Foundation has verbally agreed to fund the construction of a new 10 million dollar facility for the Caskey School of Divinity pending an anticipated increase in receipts."


6. March 12, 2012, Quarles' official report to Donor Foundation: "Dr. Aguillard and I traveled to Tanzania at the end of February to meet with the President and to receive the gift of over 400 acres of land for Louisiana College-Tanzania. We look forward to launching our ministries there soon. Among the personnel that we seek to add to the Divinity School staff this fall is a missions professor who will also serve as Director of Overseas Endeavors. This professor will take care of the logistics for our students' cross-cultural mission trips and make preparations for a training program for pastors and church planters in Tanzania."


7. March 19, 2012, Quarles report to Board of Trustees, Integration of Faith and Learning Committee: "Dr. Aguillard and I traveled to Tanzania at the end of February to meet with the President and to receive the gift of over 400 acres of land for Louisiana College-Tanzania. We look forward to launching our ministries there soon. Among the personnel that we seek to add to the Divinity School staff this fall is a missions professor who will also serve as Director of Overseas Endeavors. This professor will take care of the logistics for our students' cross-cultural mission trips and make preparations for a training program for pastors and church planters in Tanzania."


8. March 19, 2012, Quarles reported to the Board of Trustees, Integration of Faith and Learning Committee: That [Quarles] had submitted the legal documents which he assisted in creating verifying the new Louisiana College Tanzania, Non-Governmental Organization, of which Quarles is a charter member.


9. March 29, 2012, without the President's knowledge, Quarles published an official document on the LC website to Louisiana College and on behalf of the Foundation donors, “Our generous donors have now agreed to fully fund . . .an extension of the Caskey School of Divinity in Tanzania."


10. August 15, 2012 Quarles’ email to Baton Rouge Advocate: “The foundation that has underwritten the costs of the Divinity School has reviewed proposals for a new permanent site for the school. The foundation was enthusiastic about the proposals and has agreed to fund construction of the facility.”


11. August 24, 2012, Quarles personally gave an official report following the meeting that he and the President had with the donors, to the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees: "We [President Aguillard and I] explained to them [Caskey donors] that because of the fact that the big program of the Caskey School of Divinity is the Pastoral Ministry Program, which is a Friday-Saturday program, except for Orientation doesn't begin until . . . . . afternoon. As long as the Law School courses were structured so they were out of the building by noon Friday that we could share the classrooms and be good stewards of the investment that they've made in Louisiana College and the Caskey School. . . . . But, they are committed to being good stewards of the space that they previously committed to and sharing the classroom facilities with the two Schools." (Audio recording of report on file.)


12. December 4, 2012 Board of Trustees Meeting, Transcription of President’s announcement of donor’s decision not to provide for ‘brick and mortar’, “So…we don’t need to go out and say that we’re building that 10 million dollar building . . . because at this point, that is not in their written affirmation. “ (Chuck Quarles and Tim Johnson were both present for the announcement only days before they filed allegations that President Aguillard never shared this with the Board of Trustees.)


13. December 7, 2012 President Aguillard mailed the actual redacted October 17, 2012 letter that he had received from the donor to each member of the Board of Trustees)


14. April 30, 2013, following the Board Meeting, Chairman Gene Lee quoted for the Board of Trustees at a public press conference, "After a long and thorough investigation the Board has exonerated Dr. Aguillard of all allegations that were brought forward in the whistleblower complaints. Concluding the vote, the Board led by Chairman Gene Lee circled the President laying hands on him in prayer for love and unity.”


15. April 30, 2013, Chairman Lee held a press conference as documented in the archived video for the expressed purpose of announcing that President Aguillard had been exonerated of all charges brought by whistleblower allegations (click here to view video).


With the exception of former Board of Trustees Chairman Gene Lee, all of the investigative groups found Quarles’ assertions to be false. Documentation proves that the former chair, Lee, withheld vital information in his report to the Board of Trustees that completely exonerated the President. Former chairman, Gene Lee, was actually present for the Quarles' report to the Executive Committee on August 24, 2012 when Quarles detailed to the Committee that the donors had assured him and the President a few days previous that they had indeed agreed to build the building and share the new building space with the law school. Lee's report also withheld that information from the Board of Trustees..

In retrospect, President Aguillard has been fully exonerated by four groups:


· The LC Board of Trustees Investigative Committee on April 19, 2013, and

· The LC Board of Trustees on April 30, 2013, and

· The Louisiana College Administrative Council, Faculty Advisory Committee, and The Administrative Cabinet, and

· The LC Board of Trustees again on July 22, 2013 in their formal rejection of the Gene Lee report on Quarles’ complaints, stating that the Lee report was an inaccurate and biased investigation report.

Dr. Argile Smith, Executive Vice President and Vice President of Integration of Faith and Learning stated, "The faculty, staff, and students, have been so supportive through this journey. Our President has shown us how to work through a crisis with the kind of integrity that comes from a resilient relationship with Christ. Now that the crisis is behind us, Louisiana College can get back to fulfilling our mission, ‘to change the World for Christ!’”.

“Louisiana College is focused on moving past the Calvinism coup and strategically addressing her mission, of bringing every lost soul to Christ as we strive to fulfill our Mission", President Aguillard said.  Dr.Tommy French, Chairman of the Board of Louisiana College stated, “The Board of Trustees is thrilled at the SACS Reaffirmation in December, 2013 and looks forward to the bright future as our President leads Louisiana College to fulfill her mission.”

[42]

Sex scandal cover-up and forgery False Allegations

On February 26, 2014, two documents were leaked online disclosing an alleged blackmail attempt by Aguillard's former assistant, Joseph Cole.[43][44] The first document, released minutes from an executive committee meeting of the LC Board of Trustees, contends that that Cole threatened to leak "office secrets" to the The Alexandria Town Talk or Save Our Louisiana College unless the college paid him $25,000 cash plus overtime pay and benefits.[45] Cole claimed that Aguillard forged signatures on official SACS documents, abused pain medications, and had knowledge of an incident in a hotel room involving Cole, pornography, and two LC male college freshmen prior to his hiring of Cole as his executive assistant.[46]

The second document contained the college's agreement to pay Cole the $25,000; in exchange, Cole was to sign a non-disclosure agreement with the college.[47] The document contains a letter from the Armour Law Firm, which then represented LC. This document confirms Cole's claims that Aguillard had forged multiple signatures on official SACS documents and had hindered an internal investigation into the matter.[48] When Aguillard, who had previously recused himself from the matter, insisted that Armour immediately surrender all of the information pertaining to the Joseph Cole dispute, the law firm decided not to renew its contract with Louisiana College and wrote:

Several of the signature pages of reports which were provided as part of the College's report to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools were significant in that they called into question the authenticity of signatures, including thouse of Tim Whitman, Peggy Pack, Dr. Charles Quarles, and Michael Travers. The Vice President Evaluation of Dr. Michael Travers was even post-dated "May 10, 2011," but was sent to SACS on March 1, 2011. Further, evaluations by Dr. Searcy were stamp dated for 2009-2010 before he was even employed at Louisiana College ... Dr. Aguillard rescinded his decision to recuse himself from the Joseph Cole issue and demanded the Joseph Cole file from the Armour Law Firm and Dr. Tim Searcy ... In my opinion, for me to comply with Dr. Aguillard's written and verbal demand to release him documentation concerning the examination of the allegations against Dr. Aguillard is inappropriate...given the circumstances such as those outlined in this letter, I do not believe that I can continue to represent Louisiana College.
—Bonita Armour, Leaked LC Documents [49]

Student strike against Aguillard draws few participants

A student strike against Aguillard, called "Prayers for Progress", has been called for 8 a.m. Monday, March 24, 2014 at LC's Guinn Auditorium. An anonymous student spokesman said, "Our terms are resignation of the president or dismissal by the board." According to a flier the dissidents vow to "shut down the school by not attending classes until we are heard, and we make steps in the right direction." Aguillard at a forum on March 20 described LC as "an open book regarding our future and our strength and reminding one another it’s not about us, it’s all about Jesus." A reporter for the Alexandria Daily Town Talk attended the forum for forty-five minutes before being asked to leave. Aguillard claimed that the newspaper "printed false information" in recent articles about the status of the college and its evaluation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.[50]

The strike drew few student participants though two LC trustees and several alumni did appear to show their opposition to President Aguillard. About fifty persons gathereed at the auditorium to hold hands, pray, and sing. Organizers blamed the weak turnout on fear of retaliation by the college administration. LC had warned students in a notice that a strike would constitute a possible violation of college policies that could result in severe sanctions, such as suspension, denial of a degree, or expulsion, all on the first violation of the code. Media representatives were asked to leave the campus at the time of the gathering.[51]

Aguillard reportedly asked to resign

Though the strike appeared to have been a failure, it was disclosed three days later that Aguillard had lost the support of the majority of the trustees. The Alexandria Town Talk reported that opposition to Aguillard had mushroomed after David Hankins, the executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, reportedly dropped his support after learning that Aguillard had been recorded as having said that Hankins might be the individual promoting Calvinism on the LC campus and could "get caught in his own lies".[2][52]

After the comments about Hankins became public, Aguillard wrote the Baptist executive director a letter expressing his "remorse" over having made such remarks: "I pray that you will forgive me, and we can continue to work closely together for Christ."[52]

Ten LC trustees who had formerly opposed Aguillard released a public letter on March 28, 2014 critical of Aguillard's leadership: "It has been about the abuse of power and authoritarian control. We are concerned with truth and transparency and we believe the [Louisiana Baptist] Convention should be concerned about the same. ... we encourage the entire board to be unified in charting a new direction for the college."[53] The ten dissidents, including Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, said that they would have called for Aguillard's termination in 2013 had not convention executive director David Hankins exerted "undue influence" in defense of Aguillard. Several trustees indicated that Aguillard, not Hankins, is the focus of their concern.[53]

On April 2, 2014, the Alexandria Town Talk reported that Aguillard will not resign as LC president and has "new evidence" to report to the trustees at their next meeting on April 14.[16]

Departure as president

On April 15, Dr. Aguillard chose to step down due to health issues. The board voted to name Argile Smith as the interim president, and to seek a new leader for the campus. Aguillard will hold the title president emeritus effective August 1, 2014.[4] He begins a one-year paid sabbatical on June 1 at his full $202,007 base salary. If he decides to return to LC as a tenured professor in 2015-2016, he will receive 50 percent of his current base pay, or $101,003.50. For each subsequent year as an LC senior professor, beginning with the 2016-2017 academic year, he will receive 30 percent of his current base salary, or $60,602.10.[3][54]

Three weeks after Aguillard vacated the LC presidency, the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in its annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas, again placed Louisiana College on probation because of issues related to trustee board governance, institutional integrity, personnel policies, and audit findings regarding student financial aid and other financial control matters.[55]

Interim president Argile Smith said that the decision by SACS is "disappointing" but "represents an opportunity for Louisiana College to address the issues in preparation for the arrival of a new president. Fortunately, the issues don’t bring into question in any way the excellent classroom work being done by our professors and students. The issues have to do with administrative areas."[55]

On August 28, 2014, Aguillard was honored as president emeritus at the weekly chapel service for his ten-year commitment to Louisiana College. Leon M. Hyatt, Jr., a former LC trustee and friend of Aguillard's, told the audience: "I want to say probably Dr. Aguillard is the most criticized president the college has ever had. Why? Because, like Jesus, he told it like it is." Hyatt attributed much of the criticism of Aguillard to the former president's defense of biblical principles rejected in the secular world. Hyatt noted Aguillard's belief in the inerrancy of Scripture, an issue which went to court regarding a dispute with several former LC professors. The particular matter ultimately ended in Aguillard's favor in a decision by the Louisiana Supreme Court. Hyatt did not mention the controversies of 2013 and 2014 that led to Aguillard's departure from the helm of LC.[56]

"In keeping with the mission of Louisiana College, for almost 10 years now, as President of Louisiana College, Dr. Joe Aguillard has led the College as it has provided liberal arts, professional, and graduate programs characterized by devotion to the preeminence of the Lord Jesus, allegiance to the authority of the Holy Scriptures, dedication to academic excellence for the glory of God, and commitment to change the world for Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.
He has served this college with diligence, fortitude, and Christian commitment. His vision has allowed the college to grow beyond measure. He has led the college through many difficult challenges and as a result of his leadership: the college has preserved through the theological position of biblical inerrancy as explicated in the integration of faith and learning into every course and area of the campus; the college has become a level 5 graduate school as a result of the development and implementation of the Masters of Arts in teaching program (the first graduate program in the history of the college);
In 2005, during his first year as President, the college was removed from probation by SACS, and today the college stands as a reaffirmed accredited institution of higher learning.
Today, the Louisiana College Board of Trustees voted to bestow upon Dr. Aguillard the honor of continuing his contributions to Louisiana College in the role of President Emeritus beginning August 1, 2014. Dr. Argile Smith has been appointed by the Board of Trustees to serve as the Interim President to ensure that there is a smooth transition of leadership as we search for the next President of Louisiana College. Dr. Aguillard will be available to assist Dr. Smith as needed during this transition and additionally, will serve a vital role in the Graduate Teacher Education program as a tenured Professor.
On behalf of Louisiana College and the Board of Trustees, we want the Louisiana College students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community, to know our deep appreciation to Dr. Aguillard, his wife, Judy, and his daughters for the dedication they have shown to this College. God has blessed Louisiana College through the service of this President and we are grateful to God for that.
Please continue to pray for the College, our President Emeritus, the Interim President, and the Louisiana College Board of Trustees. May we, all, stay focused on continuing to fulfill the mission of Louisiana College in Christian unity and devotion."
Dr. Tommy French, Louisiana College Board of Trustees Chairman [57]

Dedication of Godbold-Ware Plaza

On March 15, 2011, two weeks before his heart attack, Aguillard, at his peak strength as the LC president, dedicated the Godbold-Ware Plaza, named for former LC presidents Edgar Godbold and Edwin O. Ware, Sr., the first LC president. The remarks are carried on YouTube.[58]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Leigh Guidry, "Louisiana College trustees consider new contract for Aguillard," March 2, 2014". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Leigh Guidry, Sources: Louisiana College President Aguillard asked to resign as support dwindles". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Louisiana College shifting gears: Aguillard's tenure as president to end May 31, April 16, 2014". Alexandria Town Talk. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Louisiana College will seek new president after moving Aguillard to emeritus role, April 15, 2014". Alexandria Town Talk. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Harry Aguillard, with gravestone photo in Basile Protestant Cemetery". findagrave.com. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 "Dr. Chuck Quarles' Introduction of Dr. Joe Aguillard, Inauguration Ceremony, March 23, 2006". lacollege.edu. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Timeline: Joe W. Aguillard, March 17, 2013". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Jules Miller, "Prayer Rally ... Spiritual help is sought for Beauregard's Schools"". Alexandria Daily Town Talk, January 10, 1999. Retrieved September 18, 2009.
  9. ↑ "Leigh Guidry, Gannett Press,Members of Joe Aguillard's church call for prayers for Louisiana College, March 26, 2014". Shreveport Times. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  10. ↑ ""Alumnus of the Year: Rory Lee", Mississippi College Alumni Magazine Winter 2012". mc.edu. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Dr. Rory Lee". baptistchildrensvillage.com. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Malcolm Yarnell". swbts.edu. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Leigh Guidry, "Louisiana College president's future in question when trustees meet", March 18, 2013". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Capital Campaign Q&A with Dr. Aguillard", Columns: the Magazine for Louisiana College Alumni and Friends (Winter 2013), pp. 10-11
  15. ↑ "Judge Paul Pressler School of Law", Columns: The Magazine for Louisiana College Alumni and Friends, Winter 2010, p. 16
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Leigh Guidry, Sources: La. College President Joe Aguillard says he won't quit". The Town Talk. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Todd Starnes, "Baptist college: We'll defy gov't on mandate"". bpnews.net. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Joe Aguillard says he would close Louisiana College over Obamacare, March 19, 2012". youtube.com. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  19. ↑ "Joe W. Aguillard". voterportal.sos.la.gov. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Christopher Pate, Election 2012: Ron Paul Campaigns in Louisiana: Republican candidate works hard to prove himself, March 26, 2012". scholastic.com. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  21. ↑ "Freedom, faith and family: Santorum brings conservative message to cap LC's candidates week". wildcasts.ehclinetgs.com. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Accreditation reaffirmed for Louisiana College". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  23. ↑ "Tommy French takes over as La. College board chairman, January 22, 2014". The Town Talk. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Randy Benson and Leigh Guidry, SACS to launch investigation of Louisiana College". Alexandria Town Talk. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Jodi Belgard, "Former Louisiana College professor named dean at Phoenix school", July 1, 2013". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  26. ↑ "Leigh Guidry, "Aguillard: Calvinism root of conflict at Louisiana College"". Alexandria Daily Town Talk", June 2, 2013. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  27. ↑ "Brandon Comeaux, "LCC president recovering from heart attack, March 29, 2011". KPEL-FM. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  28. ↑ "President's Pen, January 17, 2013". lacollege.edu. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 "Leigh Guidry, "Major donor announces it no longer supports Louisiana College: Cason Foundation was a major backer for the college's divinity school"". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
  30. ↑ "Edgar Cason Contribution List in 2012". campaignmoney.com. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  31. ↑ "Leigh Guidry, Aguillard retains job as president of Louisiana College, March 20, 2013". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  32. ↑ "Trinity Heights Baptist Church". trinityheights.org. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  33. ↑ "Randy Benson, "Split committee clears president of multiple accusations"". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  34. ↑ "Tapes appear to contradict Louisiana College President Aguillard's claims on Tanzania". The Town Talk. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  35. ↑ "Louisiana College Board votes to retain Aguillard as president", Alexandria Daily Town Talk, May 1, 2013
  36. ↑ "Lee Guidry, "Louisiana College has a new challenge: Restoring its image", May 5, 2013". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  37. ↑ "Louisiana College announces anonymous $10 million donation, May 1, 2013". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  38. ↑ "Leigh Guidry, "Louisiana College VP: President Aguillard's Calvinism stance 'a distraction'", July 27, 2013". Alexandria Daily Tlown Talk. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 "Johnson: Louisiana College firing was in response to whistleblower complaint, August 11, 2013". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  40. ↑ "Lawsuit: Being whistleblower cost former Louisiana College VP his job". Alexandria Town Talk. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  41. ↑ "LC President Aguillard: I'll put loyalty over competency, March 2, 2014". Alexandria Town Talk. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  42. ↑ http://www.lacollege.edu/content/qpressrelease
  43. ↑ Hall, JD. "LOUISIANA COLLEGE PAYS OFF (25K) AGUILLARD’S ASSISTANT TO KEEP SILENT ON MISDEEDS". Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  44. ↑ Guidry, Leigh. "Documents: Former Louisiana College employee was paid to keep quiet". Town Talk. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  45. ↑ "Minutes, Executive Committee Meeting". Louisiana College Internal Documents. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  46. ↑ "Sex and Drugs". faithonview.com. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  47. ↑ "Louisiana College Agreement to Pay Off Joseph Cole Blackmail Demands". Louisiana College Internal Documents. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  48. ↑ "Louisiana College Agreement to Pay Off Joseph Cole Blackmail Demands". Louisiana College Internal Documents. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  49. ↑ "Louisiana College Agreement to Pay Off Joseph Cole Blackmail Demands". Louisiana College Internal Documents. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  50. ↑ "Leigh Guidry of Gannett News, Group of LC students seeks President Joe Aguillard's removal: 'Prayers for Progress' strike planned for Monday morning". Shreveport Times. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  51. ↑ "Leigh Guidry, Handful of students, alumni gather at Louisiana College for 'strike', March 24, 2014". Alexandria Town Talk. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  52. ↑ 52.0 52.1 "Leigh Guidry, Louisiana College's Aguillard issues apology to La. Baptist Convention executive director". Alexandria Town Talk. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  53. ↑ 53.0 53.1 "Leigh Guidry, Louisiana College board members accuse Aguillard, La. Baptist Convention executive director of abusing power, March 29, 2014". Alexandria Town Talk. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
  54. ↑ http://www.lacollege.edu/content/board-trustees-honors-president-aguillard-president-emeritus-his-many-accomplishments
  55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 John Willie, "Louisiana College Placed on Probation by SACSCOC; Maintains Full Accreditation", Louisiana College press release, June 19, 2014
  56. ↑ Leigh Guidry (August 28, 2014). "Aguillard's recognition ceremony receives". The Alexandria Town Talk. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  57. ↑ http://www.lacollege.edu/content/board-trustees-honors-president-aguillard-president-emeritus-his-many-accomplishments
  58. ↑ "Dedication of Godbold-Ware Plaza, March 15, 2011". youtube.com. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
Preceded by
Rory Lee		 8th President of Louisiana College in Pineville, Louisiana

Joe Wallace Aguillard
2005–2014

Succeeded by
Argile Smith (interim)