Governor Addresses Postsecondary Education Review Commission
Date: August 10, 2009 Contact: Meg Caspermeg.casper@la.gov
BATON ROUGE, La. – Governor Bobby Jindal addressed the first meeting of the Postsecondary Education Review Commission this morning at the State Capitol pledging his support for higher education and his desire to see change. “We as a state can’t afford for higher education to do anything but succeed,” Jindal said.
In outlining the areas in which he requests the commission focus on, the Governor said, “I am going to challenge the commission to look at four areas: aligning degree programs with the economic development needs of the state, funding higher education based on performance instead of enrollment, building unique centers of excellence on all campuses and eliminating duplication and waste. This commission cannot be just another exercise and report to add to the shelf. It is too important for the future of our state,” said Jindal.
Commissioners also received their official charge from Speaker of the House Jim Tucker, author of the legislation (Act 309) that created the commission, who encouraged members to be bold in their final recommendations.
“This whole exercise is about setting up for the next 50 years; for the future of higher education. It is critically important that you don’t hold back. This commission needs to tell it like it is and hit us over the head with a two-by-four, if necessary, so that we do what’s right for our students and our state,” Tucker said.
The Postsecondary Education Review Commission was formed during the 2009 Legislative Session following discussions of budget cuts and the need to focus on efficiencies. Today, the commission heard a grim report from the Division of Administration about the projected $939-million state shortfall in the next fiscal year and a $1.9-billion shortfall in the following year. The future budget realities will be the sole focus of a future commission meeting.
Concerns about the projected shortfall led to questions and concerns voiced by commissioners including Senator Ben Nevers, “We have to look at the economic impact of cutting higher education in Louisiana. If the commission does come forth with a plan it could change the way we do business in the Administration and the Legislature. I am not willing to consider further deep cuts to higher education. It would dismantle higher education in this state to the point at which it would take decades to overcome,” said Nevers.
Commissioner of Higher Education Sally Clausen presented an overview of higher education funding in Louisiana along with recent initiatives designed to improve graduation rates in Louisiana. “The Board of Regents has adopted a strategic plan with the goals of increasing the educational attainment of the state’s population and the investment in university research. Despite our financial challenges, we will be relentless in our focus on producing more graduates with degrees and certificates in order to create the workforce our state needs now and in the future,” said Clausen.
Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret urged commissioners to help realign Louisiana’s higher education system to address the workforce development needs of Louisiana saying, “We believe that we need to dramatically increase the enrollment of our community and technical system, to raise admission standards, to focus on our flagship agenda and on research in our universities.”
President of the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education Pat Callan put the work of the commission into perspective with the national economic downturn. “I have only the most positive things to say about Louisiana and its courage in tackling these issues at this time in our country’s history. While it does not have a history in leading in educational measures, Louisiana is leading much of the nation in educational improvement and this process can only help that to continue,” said Callan.
Commissioners also heard from national experts including: Allison Reynolds, President, Council of Student Body Presidents; Marc Guichard, Student Member, Board of Regents; Paul Lingenfelter, President of the State Higher Education Executive Officers; Dennis Jones, President of the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems; Reginald Robinson, President and CEO of the Kansas Board of Regents and Brit Kirwan, Chancellor of the University System of Maryland.
Commissioners also decided they will focus on priority programs and projected state funding in their next meeting which will be held on a date to be determined in September. The Postsecondary Education Review Commission will study the governance, facilities, funding, operations, and number and alignment of degree programs at Louisiana public colleges, and provide a written report of findings and recommendations to the Board of Regents by February 12, 2009. The Board of Regents will review the report and submit comments to the Legislature no later than February 26, 2009.
To view today’s meeting and learn more about the commission go to www.laperc.org.
Members of the Postsecondary Education Review Commission are: Dr. Lezli Baskerville, Attorney and President, National Association for Equal Opportunity; Mr. James Davison, Louisiana Businessman; Dr. David Longanecker, President Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education; President Emeritus Mark Musick, Southern Regional Education Board; The Honorable Ben Nevers, Chair, Senate Education Committee; Mr. Artis Terrell, Principal, The Williams Capital Group, L.P.; Mr. David Voelker, Managing Member, Frantzen, Voelker and Conway Investments; Dr. James Wharton, Chancellor Emeritus, Louisiana State University and Dr. Belle Wheelan, President, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Ex-Officio Members (Non-Voting): Mrs. Elsie Burkhalter, Chair Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System; Mr. Blake Chatelain, Chair-Elect Board of Supervisors for the Louisiana State University System; Mr. Tony Clayton, Chair Board of Supervisors for the Southern University System and Mr. Stephen Smith, Chair Board of Supervisors for the Louisiana Community and Technical College System.
