>>> 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.