State dollars creating new professor jobs BATON ROUGE, LA. (AP) (wrkf) - Nearly $14 million in state money will help create 176 new professorships at universities around Louisiana.

Commissioner of Higher Education Sally Clausen is planning to start distributing the dollars on Tuesday, with a visit to Nicholls State University in Thibodaux.

The funds also will help create 11 new endowed chair positions at the schools.

The endowed chair and professorship positions are considered prestigious ones that help attract scholars and research faculty.

The state money, which was set aside by the Louisiana Legislature, will match with more than $21 million in private donations to cover the costs of the positions. © Copyright 2009, wrkf