At its meeting Friday, the UL System Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the recognition in honor of Authement, who will retire as the university’s president in June.

Authement joined UL’s faculty in 1957 in the mathematics department. In 1974, he became the university’s fifth president and his support of the college has led its programs to national recognition.

The college’s computer science program was recently ranked among the country’s top 60 and its math department among the top 100 by the National Science Foundation.

Authement has "demanded superior teaching and superior research from faculty," stated Bradd Clark, dean of the College of the Sciences in a press release from the university.

Last fall, 1,706 students and 315 graduate students were enrolled in the college’s programs, which include biology, computer science, chemistry, geology, health information management, mathematics, physics and renewable resources.

Faculty research within the college is relevant to Lafayette, stated Steve Landry, UL vice president for academic affairs.

"Research in this college is relevant, is having an impact on the future of technology and attracts large amounts of external funds that stimulate our local economy," Landry stated.

After the vote at the meeting, Authement received a standing ovation from those who attended the board’s meeting in Baton Rouge.

"It has been a pleasure to work for you and with you and I hope I can continue to serve in the retirement phase," he stated, according to the release.

Authement announced his retirement at the board’s April meeting last year.

Daily Advertiser, April 26, 2008