No Timeline For Choosing Higher Ed. Leader

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The state's top college governing board is continuing its search for a new higher education commissioner with no definite timeline for choosing someone.

Robert Levy, chairman of the Board of Regents, says while the board would like to pick someone soon, he's not sure if a new commissioner will be in place for the start of the legislative session in April.

The state has been without a higher education commissioner for months after lawmakers refused to approve the salary for a temporary commissioner. Whoever is chosen as the new leader will arrive on the job amid budget disputes and a controversial debate about merging two colleges in New Orleans.

A national search firm is sifting through possible candidates for the job.