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Regular Session, 2010
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 118
BY SENATORS MORRISH AND MOUNT
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Dr. Robert Hebert on the occasion of his retirement as
the president of McNeese State University.
A RESOLUTION1
To commend and congratulate Dr. Robert D. Hebert upon the occasion of his retirement, to2
recognize his forty-one years of service to McNeese State University and twenty-3
three years of leadership as president of the university, to record his myriad4
accomplishments and remarkable contributions to the university and the state of5
Louisiana, and to extend to him the best wishes of the Senate on his future6
endeavors.7
WHEREAS, on the occasion of his retirement, it is appropriate that a sincere measure8
of commendation be expressed to Dr. Robert Hebert for his outstanding accomplishments9
at McNeese State University, where he has served with great honor and distinction as10
president from 1987 to 2010; and11
WHEREAS, with his retirement as president, Dr. Hebert becomes the longest serving12
president in the history of McNeese State University; and13
WHEREAS, Dr. Hebert's stewardship, dedication and positive leadership to the14
university have facilitated growth toward the institutional core values of commitment to15
academics, student success, fiscal responsibility, and community and university linkages,16
which has led to increased scholarships funded and awarded, notable faculty achievements,17
program expansion, applied research initiatives, campus initiatives to enhance student life18 SR NO. 118
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and experiences, and partnerships with community leaders, all focused on strengthening1
academic integrity and scholarship; and2
WHEREAS, under his leadership, the institution has achieved a national3
accreditation of one hundred percent for all four-year and graduate programs required for4
accreditation by the Board of Regents, and has expanded the use of electronic delivery of5
instruction; and6
WHEREAS, Dr. Hebert was instrumental in creating centers and institutes at the7
university including the Violet H. Howell Institute for the Study of Industry-Community8
Relations, Groundwater Research Institute, Center for Management Development, Institute9
of Performing Arts, Real Estate and Professional Development Institute, Center for10
Economic Education, Lake Area Industries/McNeese Engineering Institute, Louisiana11
Environmental Research Center, H. C. Drew Center for Economic Development, H. C. Drew12
Institute, Kay Dore' Counseling Center, and Small Business Development Center; and13
WHEREAS, Dr. Hebert also conceived the creation and development of two14
important initiatives of the university, including the "Banner Series", which is widely15
recognized as one of the finest Arts and Humanities series in the southern region of the16
country, and the university library archives; and17
WHEREAS, during his tenure, he launched a major emphasis on fund raising and18
increased university foundation assets from less than one million dollars to over fifty-five19
million dollars, which is the third highest in the University of Louisiana System and is the20
highest among public universities of its size in the state; and21
WHEREAS, Dr. Hebert's commitment to fiscal responsibility resulted in numerous22
campus capital improvements, including acquisition of property and construction of new23
facilities; responsible budgeting through difficult economic times; and steadfast guidance24
through the challenging recovery efforts from the devastating effects of Hurricane Rita in25
southwest Louisiana; and26
WHEREAS, he is credited with leading the successful effort to enhance campus27
safety, including significant improvements in outdoor lighting, emergency call boxes, loud28
speakers, and emergency alert systems; and29
WHEREAS, Dr. Hebert is also credited with improved communication with faculty,30 SR NO. 118
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staff, and students that has been accomplished by 1) the installation of a hotline telephone1
in the president's office, which is the only one of its kind in the state, and one of only a few2
in the entire country; 2) the establishment of a "Memo from the President" which is3
distributed to every employee and posted on the university website; and 3) the inclusion of4
faculty on certain university councils who are charged with keeping the other faculty5
informed; and6
WHEREAS, under his leadership, the university has placed a high priority on7
individualized attention to students, as McNeese was one of only three universities in the8
South and twelve in the nation ranked in the national listing of "Schools that Offer a High9
Level of Individual Academic Attention From Faculty" in the College Catalog 2001,10
published by Kaplan and Newsweek; and11
WHEREAS, in 1989, a motto was adopted on the fiftieth anniversary of the12
university, Excellence with a Personal Touch, which is a reflective philosophy of the campus13
administration of Dr. Hebert, his staff, and faculty; and14
WHEREAS, although the growth and accomplishments of the university can be also15
attributed to the many faculty and staff that have given their time and talent to moving the16
institution forward, much of the credit for the historic accomplishments is given to Dr.17
Hebert, who is widely respected and admired for his superb leadership and for the18
immeasurable contributions and improvements he has made as president; and19
WHEREAS, Dr. Hebert is highly regarded for earning the trust and admiration of the20
members of the Senate and respected for his integrity, which will continue long after his21
retirement as he leaves behind a legacy of professionalism, along with a host of colleagues22
who wish him the best as he embarks on a new chapter in his life; and23
WHEREAS, the members of the Senate sincerely wish to acknowledge Dr. Robert24
Hebert for a lifetime of contributions he has made to postsecondary education, to his25
community and state, and to the students, faculty, and staff of McNeese State University26
during the course of his highly effective career.27
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana28
does hereby congratulate Dr. Robert D. Hebert upon the occasion of his retirement as29
president of McNeese State University and commend him for the generous and admirable30 SR NO. 118
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way in which he has devoted his energy and talents to the full development of students into1
informed, capable, and productive citizens of their communities and the world.2
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to Dr.3
Robert D. Hebert.4
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Sherri H. Breaux.
DIGEST
Morrish SR No.
Commends Dr. Robert D. Hebert upon the occasion of his retirement and to recognize his
service of 41 years to McNesse State University and 23 years as president of the university.