The (LA Tech/LSUS) Merger Thread II

[SportTechFan]

Received from Shreveport Chamber lobbyist @ 12:20 PM:

The House merger bill (HB 964) just passed House Education Committee after three hours of testimony. The vote was 14-4. We now need 2/3 vote (at least 70 votes) on the House floor.

The Senate bill (SB 527) will be heard in Senate Education Committee this Thursday.

Latest word from Barrow Peacock - sent today @ 11:06 AM:

Thank you for taking the time to write. The House Education Committee is hearing this bill right now. I am still opposed to the merger of LSUS and Louisiana Tech, as it currently reads. If LSUS and Louisiana Tech are allowed to merge, as HB 964 and SB 527 state, safeguards and assurances must be provided that require a postsecondary education system to meet the needs of our community with advanced graduate level courses. Our area of Louisiana, which is the third largest metropolitan area in the state, will be at a competitive disadvantage to compete in the global economy. With the importance of Barksdale Air Force Base, Haynesville Shale discovery, and our promising film production and digital media industry, Moonbot Studios & Millennium Studios, in Shreveport-Bossier, our state will be making a mistake to allow these two institutions to merge as currently proposed. Barrow Peacock

STF

[champion110]

Received from Shreveport Chamber lobbyist @ 12:20 PM:

The House merger bill (HB 964) just passed House Education Committee after three hours of testimony. The vote was 14-4. We now need 2/3 vote (at least 70 votes) on the House floor.

The Senate bill (SB 527) will be heard in Senate Education Committee this Thursday.

Latest word from Barrow Peacock - sent today @ 11:06 AM:

Thank you for taking the time to write. The House Education Committee is hearing this bill right now. I am still opposed to the merger of LSUS and Louisiana Tech, as it currently reads. If LSUS and Louisiana Tech are allowed to merge, as HB 964 and SB 527 state, safeguards and assurances must be provided that require a postsecondary education system to meet the needs of our community with advanced graduate level courses. Our area of Louisiana, which is the third largest metropolitan area in the state, will be at a competitive disadvantage to compete in the global economy. With the importance of Barksdale Air Force Base, Haynesville Shale discovery, and our promising film production and digital media industry, Moonbot Studios & Millennium Studios, in Shreveport-Bossier, our state will be making a mistake to allow these two institutions to merge as currently proposed. Barrow Peacock

STF

He is speaking double talk. His words indicate that he should be FOR the merger. His statement is that he is against. Tech would bring post graduate programs to Shreveport. They aren't going to get it any other way.

[inudesu]

Received from Shreveport Chamber lobbyist @ 12:20 PM:

The House merger bill (HB 964) just passed House Education Committee after three hours of testimony. The vote was 14-4. We now need 2/3 vote (at least 70 votes) on the House floor.

The Senate bill (SB 527) will be heard in Senate Education Committee this Thursday.

Latest word from Barrow Peacock - sent today @ 11:06 AM:

Thank you for taking the time to write. The House Education Committee is hearing this bill right now. I am still opposed to the merger of LSUS and Louisiana Tech, as it currently reads. If LSUS and Louisiana Tech are allowed to merge, as HB 964 and SB 527 state, safeguards and assurances must be provided that require a postsecondary education system to meet the needs of our community with advanced graduate level courses. Our area of Louisiana, which is the third largest metropolitan area in the state, will be at a competitive disadvantage to compete in the global economy. With the importance of Barksdale Air Force Base, Haynesville Shale discovery, and our promising film production and digital media industry, Moonbot Studios & Millennium Studios, in Shreveport-Bossier, our state will be making a mistake to allow these two institutions to merge as currently proposed. Barrow Peacock

STF

Wait. How does the area do this stuff without the merger? The status quo does not do what he's wanting.

[JuBru]

Who's shocked? Only people against it are some of the LSUS faculty & alums and the System; the 4 reps that voted No I think could be swayed yes if we get the numbers behind the state savings straight and/or an outside plan to help pay for the transfer/merger costs...

Everyone commenting about that LSUS faculty article and all the ones like it. The reaction is always the same - shock that people hold the letters LSU as divine and that the faculty and other that stand to lose their job/influence are against it.

Received from Shreveport Chamber lobbyist @ 12:20 PM:

The House merger bill (HB 964) just passed House Education Committee after three hours of testimony. The vote was 14-4. We now need 2/3 vote (at least 70 votes) on the House floor.

The Senate bill (SB 527) will be heard in Senate Education Committee this Thursday.

Latest word from Barrow Peacock - sent today @ 11:06 AM:

Thank you for taking the time to write. The House Education Committee is hearing this bill right now. I am still opposed to the merger of LSUS and Louisiana Tech, as it currently reads. If LSUS and Louisiana Tech are allowed to merge, as HB 964 and SB 527 state, safeguards and assurances must be provided that require a postsecondary education system to meet the needs of our community with advanced graduate level courses. Our area of Louisiana, which is the third largest metropolitan area in the state, will be at a competitive disadvantage to compete in the global economy. With the importance of Barksdale Air Force Base, Haynesville Shale discovery, and our promising film production and digital media industry, Moonbot Studios & Millennium Studios, in Shreveport-Bossier, our state will be making a mistake to allow these two institutions to merge as currently proposed. Barrow Peacock

STF

Maybe I'm mistaken, but from the moment this was started, those "safeguards and assurances" are exactly what the study and everything else has addressed. Peacock is blowing smoke every single time he sends that reply.

[revf]

This would pass easily with two things:
1. Jindal's endorsement
2. Martin's endorsement

It is time for DR to make two phone calls.

[champion110]

This would pass easily with two things:
1. Jindal's endorsement
2. Martin's endorsement

It is time for DR to make two phone calls.

Better than that, the entire Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, Mayor, and D.R. need to make the phone calls to both.

[GermDawg]

Now that this is headed to the floor I emailed my Rep; Jack Montoucet asking him to support this, EVERYONE ACROSS THE STATE needs to let their Reps now to support HB 964. SIC 'EM DAWGS!

[GermDawg]

How the &*(* did I get a ULM grad as my Senator in South LA, really...

[SportTechFan]

Just had this report of the House Education Committee meeting emailed to me - I am advised that it was issued by LSU System (note "Minden cardiologist Dr. Phillip Rozeman"):

LSUS/La Tech Merger Approved by House Education Committee



The House Education Committee on a 14 to 4 vote on Tuesday approved a bill to merge LSU Shreveport with Louisiana Tech University.

Bill 964 by Rep. Thomas Carmody of Shreveport now moves to the House floor where a two-thirds vote is needed for passage.

“We need to meet the needs of the region,” said Carmody. “The bottom line is not simply about merging two institutions, this is about seeking to provide a brighter future.”
House Appropriations Committee Chairman, Rep. James Fannin of Jonesboro and a co-author of the bill, told committee members the merger makes sense because of the state’s continuing money troubles that would require cutting $210 million by June 30^th along with an estimated $71 million reduction in the new fiscal year for higher education alone.

Calling the measure a “local bill,” Fannin told the committee the merger would hold down administrative costs and consolidate programs in two different systems. “Do we want mediocrity among all of us or do we want to focus on consolidation where we can, cut out programs, and elevate higher education?” Fannin asked.

And Fannin said, “We have to have some changes in what we do and how we provide higher education to our citizens.”

Carmody said LSUS was in a “death spiral” and the “coup d’gras” was “not far away” as a result of declining enrollment. “Something’s got to give,” he said.

Minden cardiologist, Dr. Philip Rozeman, the lead proponent of the merger, said the takeover would most likely give LSUS a better partner in Louisiana Tech that is more likely to deliver new academic programs.

“The merger fulfills the best way to provide a more comprehensive university for the Shreveport area,” Rozeman said.

Before approval, Carmody amended the bill without objection to require the Louisiana Community and Technical College System along with the Southern University System to set up remedial courses on the LSUS campus because increased admission standards that go into effect this fall, ban remedial courses at four-year public universities.

Businessman Mike Woods of Shreveport, a longtime LSUS backer, said plunging finances underscore the need for a merger, noting a 42 percent reduction in LSUS state funding over the last four years and a nine percent drop in student credit hours. “It’s not going to get any better, it’s going to continue to get worse,” Wood said.

Dr. Wayne Hogue, a LSUS instructor who supports the move, declaring that the merger represents a “spectacular economic development opportunity” for North Louisiana, told committee members the measure would set free LSUS academically. “This is the only way for us to get the shackles off us and start all over,” Hogue said.

Leading objections to the merger were Interim LSU System President Dr. William Jenkins and LSUS Chancellor Dr. Vincent Marsala.

Dr. Jenkins told legislators, “I frankly can’t understand why Shreveport/Bossier doesn’t want to grow it’s own research institution?”

Citing the University of Texas at Dallas campus as a potential model for development of LSUS, Jenkins said, “Shreveport/Bossier needs their own public, major research institution” and not one tied to another institution 70 miles away.

Jenkins also told legislators, pointing to a University of Maryland study of a proposed merger in Maryland, that up to 80 percent of mergers inside and outside higher education fail and that cost savings might not materialize. “Be very careful of doing down that path, that would very well be a trap,” Jenkins said.

Marsala blamed repeated delays by the Louisiana Board of Regents on a failure to quickly deploy new programs at LSUS, adding that the LSU System and LSU Board of Supervisors had approved every proposal submitted for new degree programs.

And Marsala told the committee plans to bring new programs to LSUS would work. “This is very progressive and can be implemented in the fall,” said Marsala of the new LSU Shreveport Commitment Plan that would initiate as many as 24 new academic programs over the next 18 months.

Rep. John Bel Edwards of Amite noted an estimated $1.5 million fiscal impact of a merger,including legal fees and property surveys, but Fannin countered that savings would be a long-term proposition. “Sometimes you have to spend money to save money,” said Fannin.

Legislative Fiscal Analyst Charley Rome, confirmed that there is uncertainty over long-term costs, particularly for consulting services. “We’re not really sure what the net impact will be,” Rome said. “We’re not really sure when the changes will take place.”

Later, Higher Education Commissioner Jim Purcell disputed Marsala’s claims of delays in approving new programs by the Board of Regents, claiming Marsala at one point even supported the suggested merger.

Reading from a list of programs approved by the Board of Regents over the last 12 years, Regents Chairman Robert Levy declared the Regents approved all proposals submitted by the LSU System for LSUS.

But Marsala, reading from a letter he sent to the Regents, detailed repeated delays by the Regents in approving a new degree programs.

“There are formal and informal ways to throw water on something, Marsala said.

The measure could come up for House debate next week.

[OLDBLUE]

Contacted Rep Cliff Richardson.

[HogDawg]

Our area of Louisiana, which is the third largest metropolitan area in the state, will be at a competitive disadvantage to compete in the global economy. With the importance of Barksdale Air Force Base, Haynesville Shale discovery, and our promising film production and digital media industry, Moonbot Studios & Millennium Studios, in Shreveport-Bossier, our state will be making a mistake to allow these two institutions to merge as currently proposed. Barrow Peacock

That's such a stupid response it could have been written by an 8-yr old. Peacock claims it would be "a mistake to allow these two institutions to merge as currently proposed", but he doesn't give a single reason WHY???

This guy's constituents should be ashamed to have representation this weak. It truly makes me wonder what kind of shameful representation you are getting the rest of the time.






HD

[rebelboi]

I have a great feeling this is going to happen. Does the medical school come with this merger?

[TechAlum05]

I have a great feeling this is going to happen. Does the medical school come with this merger?

No.

[TechAlum05]

That's such a stupid response it could have been written by an 8-yr old. Peacock claims it would be "a mistake to allow these two institutions to merge as currently proposed", but he doesn't give a single reason WHY???

This guy's constituents should be ashamed to have representation this weak. It truly makes me wonder what kind of shameful representation you are getting the rest of the time.

HD

It was a case of the devil you know vs. the devil you don't know in the last election.

Also, what does the importance of Barksdale AFB and the Haynesville Shale have to do with the merger of two universities?

When Peacock gave that standard response about "safegrounds" when the bill was first filed, I didn't agree with his position but I understood it. Now, two months later, he gives the same response template about the merger.

[Reckless Abandon]

It was a case of the devil you know vs. the devil you don't know in the last election.

Also, what does the importance of Barksdale AFB and the Haynesville Shale have to do with the merger of two universities?

When Peacock gave that standard response about "safegrounds" when the bill was first filed, I didn't agree with his position but I understood it. Now, two months later, he gives the same response template about the merger.

It sounds like he is saying he wants a GUARANTEE that the merger will accomplish its goals and objectives. Is it even possible to provide that? There is some degree of risk when making any bold decision like this, and I think the multiple third party studies provide more than enough evidence that it is worth trying. It pisses me off that this guy is a representative.