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With budget cuts from the state looming, Nicholls State University will have to find a new person to handle its money.
The university announced today that chief financial officer Ronnie Rodriguez is resigning to accept a position somewhere else. In a press release, the university said it Rodriguez would start his new job on April 1.
The move comes as Nicholls faces financial uncertainty in relation to the state currently addressing its $1 billion budget deficit for this fiscal year. Last week, the state announced it would cover only 80 percent of the remaining TOPS payments for this school year, with universities having to absorb the rest of the costs. According to the Nicholls Office of Marketing and Communication, that will amount to another $1 million budget cut for this year. Murphy said Nicholls could close for two weeks during this scenario in a worst case scenario.
Rodriguez acknowledged that the timing of his resignation is not ideal, but that the opportunity was too good to pass up.
“With the budget challenges facing Nicholls, I know this is horrible timing for my departure. However, my new position will allow for additional financial growth for me and my family,” Rodriguez said.
Murphy commended Rodridugez, who started at Nicholls in 2014, for his work during the university’s challenging times.
“I’m grateful for all the work Ronnie has done to reform the Nicholls budgeting process by bringing together a great group of employees from across campus to review the budget and create more transparency,” Murphy said.
Nicholls will announce an interim CFO in the coming weeks and start the process of hiring a full-time replacement.
