Aug. 23, 2002
To: News Directors and News Editors
From: Veronika Brown, Coordinator of Media Relations, 342-5444

Dr. James E. Cofer, Sr., President of The University of Louisiana at Monroe, authorized the release of the following official statement today, August 23, 2002, immediately following the conclusion of the August meeting of the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors:

ULM OFFICIAL STATEMENT

In a letter today I expressed my sincere appreciation to the members of The University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors and to Dr. Sally Clausen for recognizing the heavy demands of the job of a university president, and for taking action this morning to reward the Chief Executive Officers of the University of Louisiana System institutions through salary increases.

I have been at ULM for only a short time and have not yet accomplished many of the goals I have set for this Institution. Therefore, I plan to defer acceptance of this salary increase, and instead have decided to donate these funds to the Academic Enhancement account in the ULM Foundation.

James E. Cofer, Sr.
ULM President