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Dr. Joseph Savoie is stepping down as president of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette following a transformational 17-year tenure.
Savoie, a two-time UL Lafayette graduate and its sixth president, has been named president emeritus by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors. His last day as president is Thursday.
Dr. Jaimie Hebert, the University’s provost and vice president for Academic Affairs for the past seven years, will serve as interim president during the search for a permanent successor.
The UL System Board of Supervisors approved Savoie’s new role as president emeritus and Hebert’s service as interim president during a special meeting on Wednesday. As president emeritus, Savoie will work to strengthen external collaborations with alumni, supporters, community partners and other stakeholders.

Dr. Rick Gallot, president and CEO of the University of Louisiana System, called Savoie “a once-in-a-generation leader who has served his alma mater faithfully and well during a period of extraordinary change and challenge.”
“As president and in the various roles he’s held throughout his career, Dr. Savoie has always put the needs of students first. I have no doubt he will continue to do so in his new role as president emeritus. UL Lafayette and the state of Louisiana owe him a great deal of thanks for his lifetime commitment to higher education,” Gallot said.
In a letter Wednesday to the campus community, Savoie called serving as UL Lafayette’s president since 2008 “the honor of my life, the culmination of a long and happy relationship with a special place that we all share.” He expressed appreciation to the University’s faculty, staff, students, alumni, supporters and community partners as he reflected on the past 17 years. “I am so proud of what we have achieved together,” Savoie wrote.
He continued: “I reached the decision to transition to this new position after months of careful consideration. Higher education has changed immensely in the past two decades. The expectations on colleges and universities are as great as they have ever been and meeting those responsibilities to our community today – and to generations that follow – requires new ideas and fresh approaches. I owe it to this institution that has given me so much, personally and professionally, to make way for the future.”
Significant advancements in academic excellence, campus infrastructure, research capabilities and community engagement marked Savoie’s presidency.
UL Lafayette earned the prestigious Carnegie R1 classification, placing it among the top 5% of the nation’s research institutions. It surpassed $250 million in externally funded research for the first time, launched the largest comprehensive fundraising campaign in its history, implemented a master plan for campus growth, introduced new undergraduate and graduate degree programs, and opened its Health Sciences Campus.
Savoie also oversaw major enhancements to campus, including the expansion and renovation of academic buildings, research centers, student housing, athletic facilities, and the construction of Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium and the Student Union.
Before he was president, Savoie was Louisiana’s commissioner of higher education for 12 years. In that role, he served in the cabinets of three Louisiana governors and championed student accessibility and affordability.
He previously served his alma mater as its first vice president for University Advancement, executive director of the Alumni Association, program director for the Union Program Council, student government adviser and adjunct assistant professor.
Savoie earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UL Lafayette. He also holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Columbia University’s Teacher’s College in New York.
Like Savoie, Dr. Jaimie Hebert has deep ties to the campus community. An Abbeville, La., native, Hebert holds bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees – all in statistics – from the University. He has been provost and vice president for Academic Affairs since 2018. Before returning to his alma mater, Hebert held leadership roles at several institutions, including serving as president of Georgia Southern University and as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Sam Houston State University.
As UL Lafayette’s provost, Hebert oversaw the development and implementation of the University’s strategic plan, guided academic program growth and accreditation, and championed student success and faculty achievement. “Empowering the continued success of his alma mater and its students, and faculty and staff members is at the heart of all that he does,” Savoie said of Hebert in his letter to campus. “With all of you working alongside him, the momentum of achievement that we have built together will continue. I am sure of it.”

Hebert lauded Savoie for his “transformational and selfless service.”

“For 17 years, he led with vision, humor, determination and a deep affection for this place and the people and state it serves. We are all beneficiaries of Dr. Savoie’s leadership, and all that we do moving forward builds on the strong foundation he helped create,” Hebert said.

ERATH — Erath City Council meeting turned a little heated when a volunteer fireman stormed out yelling and pointing his finger at the city council and mayor, and at the same time allegedly threatened an 80-year-old audience member. 
Last Monday, Stanley Norris went to the Erath Police Station and filed charges against James Howard, a part-time worker for Erath. He is also a part-time paid city fireman.
Norris filed simple assault charges against Howard for what Howard allegedly told him at a recent Erath City Council meeting.
When the city council voted to change the way the fire chief is selected for the volunteer fire department, Howard, a volunteer firefighter, became upset and began yelling, pointing his finger at the council and Mayor Taylor Mencacci.
Howard then told the council and mayor to “Find someone else to run your fire department,” and he stormed out of City Hall. Erath Police Chief Anna LaPointe got up and escorted him out of the meeting.
While being escorted, Howard allegedly told Stanley to take his  stick, which he was using to support himself walking, and “shove it up your A--.”
“I did not tell him anything,” said Stanley. “He got upset at Mayor Taylor Mencacci.  The mayor should have fired him right on the spot.  He is still working for the city.”
Nearly two weeks after asking the council and mayor to find someone else to run the fire department, Howard is still employed by the city.
The Meridional reached out to Mayor Mencacci to see if he wanted to comment about Norris filing charges against Howard.  The Mayor did not respond.
In Louisiana, simple assault is defined as an assault committed without a dangerous weapon. The penalty for simple assault is a fine of not more than $200, imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both. 
Chief LaPointe said she floated the charges to the district attorney’s office. 
A few days after the Erath City Council meeting, the Erath Volunteer Fire Department held its normal department meeting and voted Norris, who has been an honorary fireman for 62 years, out of the fire department.
“I did not say anything and I get voted out, but the guy who cursed at the mayor, is still a fireman, “ said Norris. “That is not right.”

ERATH — By a vote of 3-2, the Erath City Council voted to have a resident who lives on Putnam Street remove 18 inches from a handicap ramp built in front of their home.
There were complaints to members of the Erath council about a wooden handicap ramp that was built in front of a home rented by an elderly lady. The lady hired a carpenter to build the ramp with Mayor Taylor Mencacci’s approval.
After the ramp was constructed, it looked to be built on the town’s sidewalk, drawing complaints from Erath citizens. However, after the town investigated, it was found that there is no city sidewalk in front of the home. The ramp was built on a concrete foundation of the house. 
However, the council members continued to receive complaints from residents who stated that the ramp obstructs their view at the intersection of Suire Street and Putnam Street.
During last week’s city council meeting, Councilman Jason Connor informed Mencacci that 18 inches of the ramp encroaches on the city easement. He expressed his desire to have this portion of the ramp removed from the easement. (A city easement is a legal right that allows the city to use a portion of private property for a specific purpose, such as public utilities or access, while the property owner still retains ownership. It’s a standard feature on many properties and is typically established for things like water and sewer lines, drainage, and utility access).
Councilman Cory Duplantis asked, “We have an easement ordinance?  That means no one will be able to park on the side of the street because they will be on the city easement?”
Erath Chief of Police Anna LaPointe said if someone files a complaint about a vehicle on the easement, she will send a patrolman to warn the vehicle owner about parking on the easement.  If it continues to park on the easement after a warning, LaPointe said a ticket will be issued.
The Erath police will only respond to complaint calls regarding easement violations and will not issue tickets for vehicles parked near the sidewalk or road.  
The council provided no timetable for when the renter must remove 18 inches of the ramp. 
Voting to have the renter remove 18 inches of her 48-inch wide wooden ramp were Stephanie Broussard, Jason Connor, and Mike Richard.
Councilmen Scott Bernard and Cory Duplantis voted to leave the ramp.

Released earlier this year, Becker’s Hospital Review composed a list of hospitals with a CMS 5-star rating for cleanliness.
Abbeville General Hospital was one of 374 hospitals in the nation to receive this recognition, as well as one of only 8 in the state. In addition, Abbeville General was one of 313 hospitals in the nation, and one of 23 in the state to receive a CMS 5-star rating for quietness, based on how quiet their rooms were at night.
According to Becker’s, a list of hospital ratings was crafted using CMS’s Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey, which is a database that rates hospitals based on a national standardized survey. Patients are given this survey after their inpatient hospital stay to inform the Abbeville General of their experience during their time in the hospital.
Abbeville General Hospital would like to recognize the Housekeeping Department, who works tirelessly, to ensure things are tidy, clean, and above expectations for all visitors and patients who come to visit, as well as the patient care team for ensuring our patients have a quiet stay while recovering at Abbeville General.
Abbeville General said, “Thank you to all the patients, employees and the community for the continuous support in keeping ‘Access To Quality Care Close to Home.’”