>>> SUPPORT FOR THIS PROGRAM IS

PROVIDED BY THE FRED B. AND RUTH

B. ZIEGLER FOUNDATION FOR

SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA FEATURING

EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN ARTISTS

AND WILDLIFE DIORAMAS.

ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS PROVIDE

THE BY THE FOUNDATION FOR

EXCELLENCE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC

BROADCASTING.

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

>>> HELLO, EVERYONE.

I'M SHAWNDZ.

>> I'M CHARLIE WHINHAM.

WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL EDITION

OF "LOUISIANA, THE STATE WE'RE

IN."

TONIGHT WE'RE MAINLY FOCUSED ON

THE PROPOSED BIG CUTS TO HIGHER

KED CASE DURING THE UPCOMING

LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> DR. SANDRA WOODLEY, PRESIDENT

OF THE LOUISIANA SYSTEM,

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

PRESIDENT DR. RONALD MASON, AND

LSU SYSTEM VICE CHANCELLOR

DR. STUART BELL WILL TALK IN A

FEW MOMENTS.

FIRST THE HEADLINES OF STATEWIDE

INTEREST.

>>> THERE'S GREAT SADNESS AS THE

BODIES OF TWO LOUISIANA SOLDIERS

WERE FOUND AFTER A HAWPPED CRASH

TUESDAY NIGHT OFF THE COAST OF

FLORIDA.

A COMMAND WERE EGG LEN AIR FORCE

BASE TELLS THE ADVOCATE THAT THE

WRECK WAS LIKELY A HIGH EXPWACT

CRASH THAT CAUSED THE BLACKHAWK

TO BREAK INTO SEVERAL PIECES

WHEN IT HIT THE WATER.

PENTAGON OFFICIALS ARE NOT

HOPEFUL FOR SURVIVORS.

IT WAS CARRYING FOUR LOUISIANA

GUARDSMEN AND SEVEN MARINES A

SPECIAL SERVICE WAS HELD TO

HONOR THE MEN.

SHE SERVED IN IRAQ AND AFTER

RESCUE MISSIONS AFTER HURRICANE

AND THE B.P. OIL SPILL.

THE NATIONAL GUARD SAYS WORDS

OFFER LITTLE COMFORT.

WE ARE HEARTBROKEN.

WE ARE SHOCKED, STANDING

TOGETHER FOR THE FAMILIES AND

FOR EACH OTHER.

>>> MARCH 16 BEGINS THE START OF

COMMON CORE TEST WEEK FOR

320,000 STUDENTS IN THIRD

THROUGH EIGHTH GRADES STATEWIDE.

SPECIFICALLY THEY WILL BE TESTED

IN ENGLISH AND MATH, RELAYING

THE LEAP.

AT THIS POINT 700 CHILDREN HAVE

OPTED OUT OF TAKING THE TEST.

THE PARENTS DON'T BELIEVE IT

WILL PROVIDE AN ACCURATE GAUGE

OF LEARNING AND ARE UNSURE HOW

THE DATA WILL BED.

>> A GROUP OPPOSED OOPENLY

BURNING M6 HAS PUT TOGETHER

ABOUT 20 SUGGESTIONS INCLUDING

CONTAINED BURN INDOORS.

THEY PLAN TO PRESENT THOSE TO

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AGENCY ON FRIDAY.

>>> OFFICIALS IN ALEXANDRIA ARE

LOOKING FOR IDEAS ON HOW TO

DEVELOP ITS DOWNTOWN RIVERFRONT.

THEY HOPE TO GET FEEDBACK FROM

STAKEHOLDERS BEFORE THE END OF

THE MONTH.

ALEXANDRIA TOWN TALK REPORTS THE

CITY ENVISIONS SPENDING $8

MILLION OVER SEVERAL YEARS TO

JEN B 32 MILLION IN PRIVATE

INVESTMENT.

>>> WELL, THE LEGISLATIVE

SESSION HAS NOT STARTED BUT

ALREADY PREDICTED TO BE TOUGH AS

DRASTIC CUTS ARE PROPOSED

ESPECIALLY FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.

IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS, CHARLIE

HAS GREAT CONVERSATION WITH SOME

HIGH STAKE LEADERS ABOUT THE

SPHX FUNDING.

>> THE STATE HAS CUT FUNDING FOR

4 PERCENT PER STUDENT SINCE

2008.

MORE COULD BE ON THE WAY.

IN JUST A MOMENT AS SHAWNA SAID

WE'LL HEAR FROM LEADERS OF THREE

OF THE STATE'S PUBLIC UNIVERSITY

SYSTEMS.

FIRST, HOW WE GOT HERE.

WITH THE STATE FACING DID 1.6

BILLION DEFICIT HIGHER EDUCATION

FUNDING IS POISED FOR ANOTHER

YEAR OF BUDGET CUTS.

HOW MUCH?

GOVERNOR JINDAL'S PROPOSED

BUDGET INCLUDES $581 MILLION IN

REDUCTIONS BUT THE GOVERNOR'S

OFFICE INCLUDES PROPOSED

BUSINESS TAX CREDIT CHANGES OF

$372 MILLION TO HELP OFFSET THE

CUTS.

S THAT IDEA COULD BE CHALLENGED

STRONGLY BY STATE BUSINESS

INTERESTS.

THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY IS FAR FROM

CERTAIN AND WOULD STILL LEAVE A

HIGHER EDUCATION GAP OF ROUGHLY

$200 MILLION COMPARED TO A YEARS

AGO.

COMMISSIONER OF HIGHER EDUCATION

DR. JOSEPH ROLL LO REMAINS

OPTIMISTIC.

>> WE'RE LOOKING AT A GUGHT

WHICH CONTAINS A SIGNIFICANT

AMOUNT OF MONEY CONTINGENT,

WHICH IS NEITHER IDENTIFIED AS A

REVENUE STREAM YET OR IDENTIFIED

AS A GUARANTEE.

WE BELIEVE IT WILL BE THERE BUT

RIGHT NOW IT'S BASICALLY PART OF

THE PLANNING PROCESS.

>> LAWMAKERS THEN HIGHER

EDUCATION LEADERS METH AT THE

TRUSTEESHIP CONFERENCE AT THE

BOARD OF REGENTS.

>> THE ANSWER IS GIVEN

UNPREDICTABLE AND STABLE SOURCE

OF FUNDING.

DO WE HAVE A STRUCTURAL BUDGET

PROBLEM?

WE HAVE EXEMPTIONS, TAX CREDITS,

EXCLUSIONS, REBATES PASSED YEAR

AFTER YEAR THAT HAVE PILED UP SO

MUCH NOW THAT WE HAVE LOST COUNT

OF WHAT WE HAVE.

>> SHORT TERM SAVINGS IN HIGHER

EDUCATION ARE GOING TO TRY TO

GET SOME BY CHOPPING THEIR STATE

GENERAL FUND SUP POVERTY AND THE

SCHOOLS WILL TRY TO MAKE IT UP

WITH SOME FEES AND TUITION

INCREASES BUT THERE'S A LEMON ON

HOW MUCH FURTHER THEY CAN GO.

>> ROBERT TRAVIS SCOTT IS

PRESIDENT OF THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS

RESEARCH COUNCIL OF LOUISIANA.

>> WE WE HAVE SEEN HAPPIES THAT

STATE APPROPRIATION HAS BEEN

GOING DOWN AND TUITION AND FEES

HAVE BEEN GOING UP.

THE WHOLE IDEA IS TO TRY TO KEEP

HIGHER EDUCATION MOSTLY WHOLE

AND THAT HAS BEEN THE PHILOSOPHY

THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN

PURSUING SINCE IT'S BEEN IN

OFFICE.

>> NOW WE'RE REACHING A POINT

WHERE FOR SOME OF THE SCHOOLS,

THEY HAVE READY REACH THEIR

CAPACITY FOR INCREASING THOSE

FEES AND FOR INCREASING THOSE

TUITIONS.

SOME OF THE SCHOOLS ARE STARTING

TO LOSE STUDENTS.

THAT MEANS LESS REVENUE.

THEY HAVE MAY HAVE MAXED OUT ON

HOW MUCH THEY CAN COMPENSATE

WITH HIGHER CHARGES TO PARENTS

AND THE STUDENTS.

>> WHEN I STARTED IN 2007 IN

TEXAS AS A UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT

ONE OF THE CAMPUSES THERE, I

RECEIVED ABOUT $7 -- ABOUT 74%

OF FUNDING FROM THE STATE.

WHEN I LEFT IN 2012 THAT WAS

LESS THAN 28%.

THIS IS A NATIONAL PHENOMENON.

PUBLIC FUNDING FOR HIGHER

EDUCATION NATIONALLY IS ON THE

DECLINE.

PERSONALLY I DON'T THINK IT WILL

EVER GO BACK TO WHERE IT WAS

WHICH MEANS WE NEED TO BE

THINKING ABOUT WAYS TO AVOID

DUPLICATION.

>> HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

CHAIR STEVE CARTER SUGGESTS

MERGING SOME STATE INSTITUTIONS.

>> I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER.

I KNOW SOME THINGS WE HAVE

TALKED ABOUT WE HAVE MET BUT WE

REALLY NEED TO TAKE A HARD, LONG

LOOK, THINK OUT OF THE BOX, AND

TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO

DO AND QUIT PROTECTING OUR OWN

TURF.

>> SOME CRITICS SAY LOUISIANA

DOES NOT NEED 14 FOUR-YEAR

PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.

A LARGER STATE LIKE FLORIDA HAS

12, TENNESSEE HAS 10.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY, WHY

DON'T WE JUST CLOSE SOME

UNIVERSITIES AND SAVE MONEY.

WELL, YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T SAVE

MONEY IN THE SHORT TERM IF YOU

DID THAT.

I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

SAY YOU WANTED TO CLOSE

GRAMBLING.

THEY ONLY GET ABOUT 12 MILLION

IN STATE DIRECT GENERAL SUPPORT

ANYWAY, SO THAT'S NOT GOING TO

CLOSE YOUR $ $1.6 BRILLION

PROBLEM.

NOT ONLY THAT IF YOU CLOSE THE

UNIVERSITY YOU'LL PROBABLY HAVE

TO BUY OUT SOME OF THE FACULTY,

YOU STILL HAVE PENSION COSTS

THAT YOU HAVE TO PICK UP.

THERE WILL BE INFRASTRUCTURE AND

BUILDINGS THAT STILL HAVE TO BE

PAID FOR THAT ARE BONDED OUT.

THERE WILL BE DORMITORIES THAT

WERE PAID FOR -- YOU HAVE

PROBABLY AN IMMEDIATE COST MIGHT

BE MORE TALIBAN WHAT YOUR STATE

GENERAL SUPPORT IS.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF

EMPHASIS TO TRY TO KEEP THOSE

UNIVERSITIES OPEN AND TO KEEP

THEM GENERATING REVENUE SO THEY

CAN PAY THEIR BILLS.

WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO END UP

WITH VERY LITTLE IF ANY REAL

STATE SUPPORT FOR THESE

UNIVERSITIES IN THE LONG RUN.

I'M NOT SAYING THIS SHOULD

HAPPEN, I'M JUST OBSERVING THIS.

BUT IN THE LONG RUN WITH SO

LITTLE STATE SUPPORT OR NO STATE

SUPPORT YOU'RE BASICALLY GOING

TO BECOME REGIONAL UNIVERSITIES.

THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE

SUPPORTED BY THE COMMUNITIES

THAT SURROUND THEM.

AND THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE

SUPPORTED THROUGH SELF-GENERATED

REVENUE THROUGH TUITION AND FEES

TO MAKE THINGS WORK.

>> JOINING ME NOW IN THE STUDIO

TO HELP UNDERSTAND THE TOPIC

BETTER, SOME OF THE STATE'S TOP

EDUCATION OFFICIALS.

DR. STUART BELL IS EXECUTIVE

VICE PRESIDENT AND PROVOST OF

LSU.

DRP RONALD MASON, PRESIDENT OF

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, AND

DR. SANDRA WOODLEY, PRESIDENT OF

THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

SYSTEM.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING ON

LPB ON SUCH AN IMPORTANT TOPIC.

ONLY GETTING MORE IMPORTANT AS

THE LEGISLATIVE CENTER BEGINS.

>> PLEASURE.

>> IF I LOOK AT THE NUMBERS

CORRECTLY THERE'S BEEN BUDGET

CUTS SINCE 2008 TOTALING CLOSE

TO OR OVER $700 MILLION.

WE'RE MAYBE FLIRTING WITH $1

BILLION DEPENDING HOW THE

SESSION GOES.

DR. WOODLEY, ARE WE IN A CRISIS

IN HIGHER EDUCATION ?R WE ARE.

TO PUT THE CRISIS IN PERSPECTIVE

WE SPENT THE SESSION LAST TIME

TRYING TO GET ADDITIONAL

TARGETED FUNDS TO DOUBLE OUR

NUMBERS OF DEGREE PRODUCTION IN

AREAS OF HIGH DEMAND.

WE KNOW WE HAVE HUGE WORK FORCE

GAPS.

THAT A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF OUR

POPULATION IS ACTUALLY ACHIEVING

A DEGREE FROM ONE OF OUR

COMMUNITY COLLEGES OR HIGHER ED

INSTITUTIONS.

WE NEED MORE EDUCATION, NOT

LESS.

WE HAVE TO FINDS A WAY TO RAMP

UP OUR PRODUCTION AND THESE CUTS

MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DO

THAT.

>> DR. MASON, ARE WE IN A

CRISIS?

WOULD YOU CALL THIS CRISIS MODE?

SHOULD WE PANIC?

>> I THINK WE PASSED CRISIS A

WHILE AGO.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S

HAPPENING IN OUR EDUCATION OVER

THE LAST FIVE YEARS WE SORT OF

FLIPPED THE SCRIPT ON THE

FUNDING FORMULA.

WE USED TO GET MOST OF OUR MONEY

FROM TUITION, NOW WE GET MOST

FROM TUITION.

YOU KNOW, THE STATE SUPPORTED

INSTITUTION IN A STATE THAT

NEEDS HIGHER EDUCATION GRAVELY,

IT'S A DIFFICULT TRANSITION TO

MAKE IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF

TIME.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PROPOSALS

IN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET THIS

YEAR, WE WILL HAVE LESS THAN 30%

OF OUR FUNDS COME FROM STATE OF

LOUISIANA.

WHICH IS A BIG DIFFERENCE FROM

WHAT IT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO.

>> DR. BELL, WHEN YOU LOOK AT

THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION

AND THE PROPOSED WAYS TO GET

MONEY BACK TO HIGHER EDUCATION,

THROUGH THE BUSINESS TAX CREDIT

CHANGES, IS THIS GOING TO PIT

BUSINESSES AGAINST HIGHER

EDUCATION POSSIBLY OR HAVE HOW

DO YOU SEE THIS LOOKING?

>> WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS A

STARTING POINT.

WE HAVE THIS 581 NUMBER AS WHERE

WE ARE TODAY.

WE HAVE SOME POSSIBLE WAYS OF

GETTING TO WHERE WE WANT TO BE,

WHICH IS HELD HARMLESS.

WE WANT TO HAVE OUR STATE

GENERAL FUNDS SIMILAR TO WHAT

THEY WERE.

I THINK THE PATH OF HOW WE GET

THERE SORT OF LIKE A GPS ON YOUR

CAR.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A START POINT

AND END POINT, SO THE BUDGET I

THINK WHAT HAS DONE IT'S

PROVIDED US PARTIAL PATHS.

NONE OF THESE ARE GUARANTEED, SO

EVEN IF ALL OF THESE POTENTIAL

SOLUTIONS COME TO PASS, WE'RE

STILL -- WE KNOW WE'RE STILL

SHORT OF REALLY THE HARMLESS

SITUATION.

SO ON MY GPS THERE'S A NOTE THAT

COMES UP WHEN YOU SORT OF GET

OFF PATH AND IT SAYS WARNING,

YOU'VE ENTERED UNCHARTED,

UNMAPPED AREA.

THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.

WE HAVE A LONG WAYS TO GO.

>> WHICH COMES WITH AN ALARM?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> IT'S RINGING.

>> WHAT DO YOU DO INDIVIDUALLY

FOR EACH OF YOUR SYSTEMS?

YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO IF I

UNDERSTAND EVERYBODY TALKING

WAYS TO FIND SELF-GENERATED

FUNDS.

WHAT'S GOING ON, SAY, AT THE

UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA SYSTEMS?

>> WE HAVE INCREASED OUR TUITION

OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS MORE

THAN 60%.

EACH OF THE INSTITUTIONS SERVES

A DIFFERENT INCOME PROFILE

STUDENT.

SO FOR MANY OF OUR INSTITUTIONS

WE'RE ALMOST TAPPED OUT ON THE

AFFORDABILITY SIDE.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, SOME OF

WHAT WAS BROUGHT UP IN THE

SEGMENT IS ABOUT INSTITUTIONS

BASICALLY BECOMING PRIVATIZED.

THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS IF YOU

PRIVATIZE EDUCATION NOT ENOUGH

OF IT WILL BE PRODUCED.

WE LIVE IN A RELATIVELY LOW

INCOME STATE.

IF THE STATE DOESN'T INVEST IN

PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION THEN

ONLY THE RELATIVELY WEALTHY WILL

BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE.

THE ECONOMIC PROGRESS THAT WE

HAVE MADE IN THE STATE WILL

TRACK BACKWARDS.

REALLY I SEE THIS PROBLEM AS

LESS OF A HIGHER EDUCATION

PROBLEM ALTHOUGH IT IS A HIGHER

EDUCATION PROBLEM, AND MORE OF A

PROBLEM FOR LOUISIANA.

OUR ECONOMY WILL NOT CONTINUE TO

PROGRESS IF WE PARTIALLY

COLLAPSE THE HIGHER EDUCATION

SYSTEM AND MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE

FOR OUR CITIES TO AFFORD THE

BILL.

>> DR. MASON, WHAT THINGS ARE

GOING ON WITHIN THE SOUTHERN

UNIVERSITY SYSTEM TO COMBAT YOUR

CONCERNS?

>> SURE.

WE HAVE BEEN AT THIS FOR A

WHILE.

EVERYBODY LIKES THE WORD

EFFICIENCY.

WE HAVE BEEN GETTING MORE AND

MORE EFFICIENT OVER THE LAST

FIVE YEARS.

CENTRALIZED SERVICES, CREATE NEW

REVENUE STREAMS, DOWN SIZE

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND CLASSES,

BUT AFTER THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT

THE POSSIBILITY OF MORE CUTS

NOW.

WHILE THERE IS -- THERE ARE A

LOT OF THINGS ON THE TABLE TO

SOLVE THE CAP THAT WE'RE LOOKING

AT WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING

TO HAPPEN.

AT THE ENDS THE DAY TO BE CANDID

IN THE SOUTHERN SYSTEM SINCE

WE'RE THE CA THEIR YAYYY IN THE

COAL MINE IT'S DIFFICULT FOR ME

TO SEE HOW WE CAN MANAGE ANY

CUTS.

THROUGH THE COMBINATION OF HIGH

ADMISSION STANDARDS AND LOWER

STATE FUNDING WE'RE SORT OF

CAUGHT IN A DOWNWARD SPIRAL THAT

MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR MANAGE

OUR WAY OUT OF THIS IF THERE ARE

ANY MORE CUTS COMING.

>> I'LL ASK THE SAME OF YOU,

DR. BELL.

>> I THINK IT'S A SIMILAR

ANSWER.

IN TERMS OF EFFICIENCY FOR

SAVINGS ANDRES DUCKS OF COSTS WE

HAVE ELIMINATED STAFF POSITIONS,

WE HAVE LOOKED TO WHERE WE CAN

CONSOLIDATE AND ELIMINATE

PROGRAMS.

THAT'S CERTAINLY TAKEN A LOT OUT

OF OUR COST BITE.

WE HAVE ALSO RECENTLY REALIGNED,

IF YOU WILL, THE MAIN CAMPUS

APPEARED THE SYSTEM, WE HAVE

ELIMINATED OR CONSOLIDATED 10 OF

OUR EXECUTIVE POSITIONS DOWN TO

FIVE.

SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO LOOK AT

HOW DO WE SAVE COSTS BUT

CERTAINLY THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH

THAT YOU CAN DO THROUGH THOSE

PROCESS.

BUT WE'LL CERTAINLY CONTINUE TO

LOOK AT THOSE.

>> DOES IT TAKE ITS POLL OVER

THE YEARS -- TOLL OVER THE YEARS

WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO SECURE

FACULTY AND RESEARCHERS?

>> CERTAINLY IT DOES.

I THINK WHEN YOU'RE TALKING

ABOUT IMPACTS AND IF YOU LOOK AT

LOUISIANA, DURING THE TIME THAT

THIS SHOW IS ON WE'LL LOSE ONE

FOOTBALL FIELD AREA-WISE OF OUR

COASTAL AREAS.

WE KNOW LOUISIANA HAS THE

HIGHEST RATES OF HIV, OBESITY

AND DIABETES THAT ALL OF OUR

INSTITUTIONS TRY TO ADDRESS

THOSE ISSUES, WE'RE THE LARGEST

CRUDE PRODUCER, SECOND LARGEST

REFINER OF CRUDE AND WE HAVE

COMPANIES WHO ARE MOVING IN

CLAMOURING FOR OUR GRADUATES.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT

OUR CONCERNS IS THAT ARE WE

GOING TO BE ABLE TO KEEP

OURSELVES OUT OF THIS SPIRAL

THAT DR. MASON TALKS ABOUT.

IF WE CUT BACK ON EDUCATION THAT

IS NOT THE LONG TERM SOLUTION

FOR WHAT WE SEE IN LOUISIANA.

WE NEED TO FEED THESE

INDUSTRIES.

>> WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IT'S

DIFFICULT OR MAYBE IMPOSSIBLE TO

PLAN FOR YOUR FALL WHEN YOU HAVE

A LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT'S

GOING TO TELL YOU WHETHER YOU

HAVE A DOLLAR OR TWO DOLLARS IN

THE BANK.

HOW DIFFICULT IS PLANNING FOR

FUTURE, JUST NEXT YEAR AT THE

U.L. SYSTEM?

>> IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.

I THINK ALL OF OUR PRESIDENTS

AND OUR INSTITUTIONS ARE FOCUSED

ON THE THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO

TO BE PREPARED FOR WHATEVER

SCENARIO ROLLS IN.

I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING

FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO AND WE

HAVE HAD LOTS OF COST

EFFICIENCIES AS THE OTHER

CAMPUSES HAVE, TO PUT OURSELVES

IN THE BEST POSITION TO TALK

WITH OUR FRIENDS IN THE

LEGISLATURE AND IN THE

GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO AVOID WHAT

I THINK IS A CRISIS FOR

LOUISIANA'S ECONOMY.

I THINK IT'S ABOUT STUDENTS AND

ABOUT WORK FORCE.

HIGHER EDUCATION IS WORK FORCE.

IF WE CAN'T PRODUCE THE

GRADUATES, HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY

TO BE ON CAMPUSES WE'RE GOING TO

GO BACKWARDS.

WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.

>> SPECIFICALLY WHAT ARE WE

GOING TO DO?

HOW DO WE MAKE SCHOOLS LEANER

AND MEANER AND HAVE YOU ALREADY

DONE IT AND YOU'VE HIT THE

FINISH LINE?

>> AS AN EXAMPLE OVER EIGHT

YEARS WE HAVE DROPPED 25% OF OUR

ADMIN STRAIFTIVE COSTS.

WE HAVE CLOSED 335 PROGRAMS AND

CONSOLIDATED ANOTHER 225.

WHEN YOU LOOK -- I WAS CHIEF

FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR 20 YEARS

IN HIGHER EDUCATION, SO I HAVE

TOO MUCH KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HOW THE

COST DRIVERS ARE, BUT THE COST

DRIVERS ARE STUDENTS.

THE DILEMMA IS THAT YOU HAVE TO

HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF FUNDING

PER STUDENT TO HIRE THE FACULTY,

TO HAVE THE CLASSROOMS FOR THEM

AND THE FACILITIES AND THE

WRAP-AROUND SERVICES.

WE NEED MORE STUDENTS ON OUR

CAMPUSES, NOT FEWER.

CUTTING ANY IN OUR HIGHER

EDUCATION WOULD CAUSE US TO BE

ABLE ERV FEWER PEOPLE.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH

DR. MASON, HOW ENGAGED ARE

STUDENTS AND STAFF?

>> I THINK IT'S VERY MUCH ON THE

RADAR.

DON'T EXCLUDE ALUMNI.

I THINK ALL OF THE STUDENTS THAT

WE SERVE, ALL OF THE COMMUNITY

MEMBERS THAT WE SERVE, THE

COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE

UNDERSTAND THE REAL IMPACT OF

THESE POTENTIAL CUTS ON HIGHER

EDUCATION.

THEY ARE NOT VERY HAPPY ABOUT IT

TO BE CANDID.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY

WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND

LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP TO FIND

ANSWERS BUT EVEN LEGISLATORS

NEED FUEL IN AT THE FIRE THAT

THEY ARE GOING TO BURN DUG THE

SESSION.

THE FUEL IS THE TAXPAYERS THAT

SUPPORT THEM AND ALL OF THE

TAXPAYERS THAT ARE TIED TO

SOUTHERN OR FULLY ENGAGED IN

HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND THE

IMPACT ON OUR INSTITUTION IN

THIS PROCESS.

>> DR. BELL?

>> ABSOLUTELY FACULTY, STAFF ARE

CONCERNED.

CERTAINLY AS THEY LOOK AT THEIR

ABILITY TO IMPACT THE STUDENTS

AND TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

NORTHBOUND STUDENTS' LIVES --

STUDENTS ARE THERE FOR A REASON,

TO GET A CREDENTIAL, A DEGREE.

OUR SUCCESS RATE WITH OUR

STUDENTS HAS GOTTEN TO A POINT

WHERE WE REALLY CAN'T CUT BACK

RESOURCES AND EXPECT THE NUMBERS

TO DO ANYTHING BUT FALL.

WE NEED TO HAVE A PATH FORWARD

THAT IS STABLE, CERTAINLY THIS

YEAR I THINK IS A SHORT TERM

SOLUTION.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET TO A

LONG-TERM SOLUTION FOR

LOUISIANA, BUT WE NEED A

SHORT-TERM SOLUTION FOR THIS

YEAR, THEN A VERY PROLONGED

CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW DO WE

MAKE SURE THERE'S A SOLUTION

PATH THAT WILL SERVE LOUISIANA

HIGHER EDUCATION.

>> AT LSU IS IT CALLED TIGER

ADVOCATES?

>> YES.

>> WHAT IS THAT?

>> THAT'S AN ALUMNI GROUP THAT

HAS REALLY GONE OFF AND

IDENTIFIED A WAY THAT THEY CAN

SHARE INFORMATION, BECOME

ENGAGED, AND HELP THE UNIVERSITY

GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.

I THINK WHERE WE NEED TO BE IS

THAT FINISH LINE OF HOLDING

HIGHER EDUCATION HARMLESS THIS

YEAR.

THEY SEE THE GREAT STRIDES THAT

HIGHER EDUCATION HAS MADE IN

LOUISIANA OVER THE LAST 10, 15

YEARS, AND THEY DON'T WANT TO AS

DR. WOODLEY SAYS WANT US TO FALL

BACK AND NOT BE PRODUCTIVE.

WE HAVE TO TOUCH THOSE STUDENTS

IN A WAY THAT PROVIDES THEM THE

ABILITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE

FOCUSED ON.

>> DR. WOODLEY, WHERE DO THE

STUDENTS, THE STAFF, THE ALUMNI

STAND IN THE SYSTEM?

>> AS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID,

OUR STUDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS

AND FACULTY AND STAFF ARE VERY

ENGAGED.

WE'RE HAVING WEBINARS AND

CONFERENCE CALLS WITH OUR ENTIRE

COMMUNITY EVERY FRIDAY TO MAKE

SURE THEY UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES.

THEY ARE ENGAGED.

THE STUDENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT

THEIR ABILITY TO PAY THE BILL.

THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE

QUALITY OF THEIR EDUCATION.

OF COURSE OUR FACULTY ARE

CONCERNED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO

CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS ON

AREAS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.

YES, WE HAVE A LOT OF

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND WE

PLAN TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON

THAT.

>> CERTAINLY WE'LL BE FOLLOWING

THAT THROUGHOUT THE SESSION TOO.

WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF TIME.

I'M GOING TO START WITH

DR. MASON AND WORK MY WAY

AROUND.

YOU GOT A FEW SECONDS TO BEND A

LAWMAKER'S EAR WHO CAN DO

SOMETHING, IN A FEW SENTENCES

HOW WOULD YOU CONVINCE HIM --

WHAT'S THE MAIN THING YOU WANT

SOMEONE TO KNOW ABOUT MAKING

DECISIONS?

>> THIS IS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF

THE STATE OF LOUISIANA AND WHAT

WE DO TODAY TO ENSURE THE KINDS

OF FUTURE WE WANT FIVE OR TEN

YEARS FROM NOW.

IT'S ABOUT WORK FORCE, ABOUT

STUDENTS, ABOUT THE QUALITY OF

INSTRUCTION.

IT'S ABOUT RAISING THE LEVEL OF

EDUCATION FOR OUR STATE THAT

DESPERATELY NEEDS TO DO THAT TO

HAVE THE KIND OF FUTURE I THINK

WE ALL INENVISION FOR OUR STATE.

>> DR. BELL?

>> I THINK LOUISIANA IS A GREAT

STATE.

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT, BUT WE

HAVE GOT TO INVEST IN OUR YOUNG

PEOPLE.

THEY ARE GOING TO BE THE ASSETS

THAT SAVES THE STATE.

CUTTING BACK ON INVESTMENT IN

THAT ASSET IS NOT THE THING TO

DO.

>> YOUR GPS IS RINGING TOO.

>> IT'S GOING OFF.

>> I ECHO THAT.

WE NEED MORE EDUCATION, NOT

LESS.

WE NEED TO RAMP UP OUR

PRODUCTION AND GIVE THE VALUE TO

LOUISIANA THAT IT DESERVES.

I WANT OUR CHILDREN AND

GRANDCHILDREN TO HAVE A BETTER

LOUISIANA TOMORROW THAN WE HAVE

TODAY.

WE NEED EDUCATION TO DO THAT.

>> WELL, I CAN'T THANK YOU

ENOUGH FOR HAVING SOME OF THE

TOP EDUCATION LEADERS IN THE

STATE JOIN US TO SHARE WITH OUR

VIEWERS A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC,

ONE WE WILL CONTINUE TO TALK

THROUGHOUT THE SPRING AND THE

LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>>> THAT'S IT FOR OUR SHOW.

BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU HERE'S

SOMETHING YOU MIGHT ENJOY FORT

ST. PATRICK'S DAY WEEKEND.

IT'S BEEN JUST ONE YEAR SINCE

THE LSU TIGER BAND PERFORMED IN

DUBLIN FOR THE ST. PATRICK'S DAY

PARADE THERE.

IT MIGHT HAVE LED TO THIS, A

SUMMER SCHOOL TO PROMOTE THE

GALEIC LANGUAGE TO THE IRISH

YOUTH PUT TOGETHER A MUSIC VIDEO

OF GARTH BROOKS' CALLING BATON

ROUGE.

SINGER MATTHEW O'DONNELL LEADS

THE CROWD THIS YEAR FOR YOUR ST.

PATRICK'S DAY ENTERTAINMENT.

ENJOY, AND GOODNIGHT.

[SINGING]

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

>>> WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM

YOU.

WRITE "LOUISIANA, THE STATE

WE'RE IN.," 7733 PERKINS ROAD

NBATON ROUGE.

CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-727-8161.

EMAIL US, CHECK US OUT ON

FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AND GO TO

WWW.LPB.ORG TO VIEW YOUR

FAVORITE STORIES AGAIN.

>>> SUPPORT FOR THIS PROGRAM IS

PROVIDED BY THE FRED B. AND RUTH

B. ZIEGLER FOUNDATION OF

JENNINGS.

THE MUSEUMS IS A CULTURAL CENTER

FOR SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA

FEATURING EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN

ARTISTS AND WILDLIFE DIORAMAS.

ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS PROVIDED

BY THE FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE

IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC

BROADCASTING.

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.