Jim Purcell

Rhode Island officials have chosen Louisiana's former higher education commissioner to lead the state's college system.

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana's higher education commissioner says he won't seek a contract renewal when his current deal with the Board of Regents ends in March.

The La. House Appropriations committee approves a spending plan for next fiscal year that does not contain any one-time money for recurring expenses.

Commissioner of Higher Education Jim Purcell said Louisiana is the only state in the country in which a two-thirds vote of the legislature is required to set tuition rates.

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana's new higher education commissioner, Jim Purcell, has signed a three-year contract with the state that gives him a $275,000 salary each year.

The state's top college governance board is interviewing its only finalist to become Louisiana's next higher education commissioner.