Tucker Commission

[tenacious_dog]

The problem has always been a lack of political will to change the system. Somebody's ox is going to get gored so no one in the legislature will suggest a plan because they're scared they'll be sacrificed on the horns of the dilemma.

I don't remember anyone taking the approach to solve our post secondary education problems that the Tucker Commission represents. If they come up with the best possible plan anyone could imagine, it will still be hard to implement. But its the best shot we've ever had.

[WWDog]

It looks to me like the Gov is the one pushing this and he might not allow the legislative bodies to sidestep the issue. Hopefully TECH will come out of this stronger. What ever happened to that study that said that TECH should be moved to the LSU system and take over some LSU outposts in Shreveport?

[tenacious_dog]

It looks to me like the Gov is the one pushing this and he might not allow the legislative bodies to sidestep the issue. Hopefully TECH will come out of this stronger. What ever happened to that study that said that TECH should be moved to the LSU system and take over some LSU outposts in Shreveport?

That whole situation was supposed to be confidential so that the deal could be worked out and put together. It was at a time that budgets were tight and people in the LSU system and the University system were looking for ways to save some money. It was "leaked" to the press when it started to look like a do-able deal, purportedly by someone with ties to a school that stood to lose some assets and programs. It appears to have gotten down the road aways toward success but went down in flames.

The Tucker Commission will hopefully at least get a full-fledged plan put together before the long knives come out. Like I said, they have a chance but its going to be tough to pull off a meaningful change.

[LT]

The state cannot/will not assume the debt of maintaining real estate to sit vacant.

Can't real estate be sold?

[WWDog]

That whole situation was supposed to be confidential so that the deal could be worked out and put together. It was at a time that budgets were tight and people in the LSU system and the University system were looking for ways to save some money. It was "leaked" to the press when it started to look like a do-able deal, purportedly by someone with ties to a school that stood to lose some assets and programs. It appears to have gotten down the road aways toward success but went down in flames.

The Tucker Commission will hopefully at least get a full-fledged plan put together before the long knives come out. Like I said, they have a chance but its going to be tough to pull off a meaningful change.

I wonder which school is "a school" and who stood to lose what. I had mixed feelings about that deal but leaned away from it to be on the safe side due to the LSU involvement.

[glm47]

The fine print said that they will make reccomendations to the legislature. Our legislature doesn't have the guts to cut.

Hope I'm wrong, but I don't think much will come out of it.

Bingo, I have talked to a couple. One excuse they will use is that eliminating or downsizing a university will have a major negative impact on that community's economy.

[DawgFaninHous]

I think that consolidation, especially in north Louisiana would be appropriate. You have a strong central campus - say in Ruston, for instance. :icon_wink: This is where the president and administration groups reside and lead from. This would also be where your athletics is centered. You then have regional campuses in , oh I don't know, say Monroe, Barksdale, and So. Shreveport (read LSU-S). These campuses have local classes and core studies, which would in turn feed into the central campus for the department heads. The money saved from the elimination of duplications can go towards the development of Internet based classes, campus to campus transportation (buses running every 30 minutes - my sister in law drives every day to Ruston from Haughton, you know she would jump on that bus), and stronger research opportunities (this is where Reneau has us very well positioned). The secondary campuses would eliminate NCAA sports and offer intermurals. The school teams would divide up a handful of games to be played at the secondary campuses (or in those towns, i.e. Bossier Arena and Indy Stadium) so that they give the locals some attention and help build supporters.

Look at the U of H system. They have 4 campuses (all about the same distances apart from us and ULM & LSU-S) and 36,000 kids. One athletic group, president, administration, etc..... they are in a strong enough position to be eligible for a Tier 1 opportunity. I dream of the day when Tech is as strong, has that size and doesn't have to compete for state dollars with little sisters who can't quite keep up. Note: the UofH has Tx Southern across the street very much like we have Grambling. Like us, they do not have a med school or law school.

DFiH

[dmcguirt23]

I think that consolidation, especially in north Louisiana would be appropriate. You have a strong central campus - say in Ruston, for instance. :icon_wink: This is where the president and administration groups reside and lead from. This would also be where your athletics is centered. You then have regional campuses in , oh I don't know, say Monroe, Barksdale, and So. Shreveport (read LSU-S). These campuses have local classes and core studies, which would in turn feed into the central campus for the department heads. The money saved from the elimination of duplications can go towards the development of Internet based classes, campus to campus transportation (buses running every 30 minutes - my sister in law drives every day to Ruston from Haughton, you know she would jump on that bus), and stronger research opportunities (this is where Reneau has us very well positioned). The secondary campuses would eliminate NCAA sports and offer intermurals. The school teams would divide up a handful of games to be played at the secondary campuses (or in those towns, i.e. Bossier Arena and Indy Stadium) so that they give the locals some attention and help build supporters.

Look at the U of H system. They have 4 campuses (all about the same distances apart from us and ULM & LSU-S) and 36,000 kids. One athletic group, president, administration, etc..... they are in a strong enough position to be eligible for a Tier 1 opportunity. I dream of the day when Tech is as strong, has that size and doesn't have to compete for state dollars with little sisters who can't quite keep up. Note: the UofH has Tx Southern across the street very much like we have Grambling. Like us, they do not have a med school or law school.

DFiH

Houston definitely has a law school. And while they don't have a med school they do have a few specialized schools like Pharmacy and Optometry.

[garddawg]

I actually worry about them limiting too much of the 4 year experience you can have at TECH. I've always described the Tech experience as like a summer camp the other 9 months of the year. Students have to grow up FAST when they first come because for most there are no parents or other. Some don't make it but many learn about living on their own, making their own decisions and becoming independent. I think that contributes to how so many of our alumni move to other areas on their own which to me is a good thing.

You're there to get that education unlike some of the city schools in the state where I kept hearing stories along the lines of college being something their students fit into their schedule and many not seeing it through to graduation. And then they just stay in the area they grew up in.

Unfortunately, I know this perspective would fall on deaf ears.

[hisaw]

tech, with it's current admission standards, would probably not be affected by any changes enacted by the tucker commission in that area.

[LATechBanjo]

I actually worry about them limiting too much of the 4 year experience you can have at TECH. I've always described the Tech experience as like a summer camp the other 9 months of the year. Students have to grow up FAST when they first come because for most there are no parents or other. Some don't make it but many learn about living on their own, making their own decisions and becoming independent. I think that contributes to how so many of our alumni move to other areas on their own which to me is a good thing.

You're there to get that education unlike some of the city schools in the state where I kept hearing stories along the lines of college being something their students fit into their schedule and many not seeing it through to graduation. And then they just stay in the area they grew up in.

Unfortunately, I know this perspective would fall on deaf ears.

You are very correct. This pretty much sums up my experience at Tech.

[hisaw]

interesting article

http://cio.chance.berkeley.edu/chanc...p/flagship.htm

[inudesu]

interesting article

http://cio.chance.berkeley.edu/chanc...p/flagship.htm

Interesting.

He has a clear bias of course, and while some of what he says makes sense - I think it is certainly open to challenge. He assumes an awful lot (although I guess his background gives him more credibility for his assumptions than than mine does).

[champion110]

Interesting.

He has a clear bias of course, and while some of what he says makes sense - I think it is certainly open to challenge. He assumes an awful lot (although I guess his background gives him more credibility for his assumptions than than mine does).

It all depends on if you believe that competition is good and can make the strong even stronger and the weak go away. He is certainly biased and I do agree with you that what he states makes sense. However, the cat is out of the bag now. The "master plan" of flagship status has been threatened by schools that offer superior programs in many states. You guys call me socialist sometimes, but having state government dictate a master plan for one flagship that no one can challenge is VERY socialist.

[Champ967]

Interesting.

He has a clear bias of course, and while some of what he says makes sense - I think it is certainly open to challenge. He assumes an awful lot (although I guess his background gives him more credibility for his assumptions than than mine does).

Great read. Thanks! Here's what I took to be the crux of his argument...

the decision to [designate a flagship campus], the decision of where to locate it, and how to build it should be the consequence of careful deliberation, not merely the consequence of political jockeying.

I can't say I disagree with that.