The House Education Committee Meeting will start at 9:00 AM today.
Link to the Committee Meeting page: http://www.legis.state.la.us/
Committee Meeting Agenda: http://house.louisiana.gov/Agendas_2...0509_12_ED.pdf
Link to the House Education Committee members page: http://house.louisiana.gov/H_Cmtes/H_Cmte_ED.asp
Meeting is underway after the roll call.
Meeting scheduled to run until 2 PM at the latest.
Meeting video online: http://house.louisiana.gov/H_Video/W...AGIThcr1wm.asp
House Bills 381, 879, 740, 540 deferred.
HB 964 is the first item up for debate.
Rep. Fannin at the microphone for opening statements on House Bill 964.
Bill reflects community action for stronger 4-year university for S/BC. Frustration with status quo with higher education in Shreveport/Bossier City. Rep. Carmody is sitting next to Rep. Fannin is support of the merger plan.
Two step process leading to merger of Tech & LSUS. LSUS moves to UL System, then LSUS merges with Louisiana Tech...all subject to SACS approval.
Importance to financing higher education...
Higher education has taken hits and budget cuts in recent years. $46 million reduction in higher education from last year with an additional $50 million cut possible this year. We have to find ways to improve efficiency, reduce cuts, and improve our higher ed system. This legislation is one way to make higher education better. It is almost a local bill dealing with NW Louisiana.
Five years ago, it was a 60/40 split in costs (state paid 60% of higher ed costs, schools generated other 40%). Today, it is a 40/60 split (state pays 40%, schools generate other 60%).
Rep. Fannin yields the floor to Rep. Carmody...
When LSU System expanded into Shreveport (60s and early 70s), every institution is existence was concerned about their "service areas". Several things were prohibited on LSU-Shreveport to protect other schools. Degrees were limited, no dorms could be constructed. When campus grew, many times the LSU-Shreveport admins wanted to offer more things to Shreveport/Bossier City residents. Other schools concerned (LSU, NW State, ULM, LA Tech).
Discussions have been ongoing for many years. Studies have been done to improve higher ed in S/BC...many have suggested a plan similar to House Bill 964.
As I was researching all the information leading up to this meeting today, I found the Revenue Estimating Committee report saying a $211 million cut must be made. We have seen the state's revenues decline in the past several years. We know cuts are coming, and something has to give. We don't look forward to it, but it must be done out of necessity.
The LSU-Shreveport enrollment has slowly gone down. Is there a point in which campuses are in a death spiral? My concern is that LSU-Shreveport may be in a death spiral, but the final blow may be very close. LSU-Shreveport looks like it is against the ropes.
There is no money to implement Dr. Lombardi's plans to offer new courses at LSU-Shreveport. Carmody doesn't know what Lombardi's motivations are other than a response to House Bill 964.
Last edited by TechAlum05; 05-08-2012 at 09:24 AM.
Right off the bat, almost missed it!
It's starting to make sense to me now. It boils down to one thing for legislators and LSU backers - Tech is a threat, and this can make Tech stronger.
LOL, he's calling out Lombardi and the rest for the 11th hour programs and trying to keep Shreveport
One thing stuck out, though. She believes that their attachment to LSU is very important and trumps anything else, even saving the state money and the fact that Tech is a great steward with their programs. Yeh, LSU isnt ranked that much higher than Tech, yet gets much more money. If Tech starts to get more money and sway, we could threaten LSU's academic "supremacy". Even then, hacks like here would still want to be associated with LSU because they have a helluva football team.
Paraphrasing Fanin - "Spreading out the dwindling money amongst the schools now only supports mediocrity."