The INDsider -> Walter Pierce MON, MAR 23 4:41AM by Walter Pierce

UL faculty senate unites against proposed cuts

Amid concerns among state lawmakers about plans to rework the formula for how to divvy higher-education funding among state colleges and universities, faculties are uniting in their opposition to the Jindal administration’s proposed $219 million in cuts to higher education.

UL Lafayette’s faculty senate voted unanimously to endorse a resolution opposing the Jindal plan. In a cover letter to the resolution, John Meriwether, the body’s executive officer and a UL physics professor, makes a case for higher ed:

Louisiana is facing a large budgetary shortfall and published reports indicate that a large fraction of that shortfall is to be borne by cuts in higher education. This is a mistake. We should rather be strengthening our investment in higher education because it is a major economic engine and because it is crucial to make our higher educational system more attractive to our young people so they remain and contribute to Louisiana’s development.

The cover letter goes on to speculate that a deteriorating economy is likely to drive the recently unemployed and the currently under-employed back to higher education, leading to increased enrollment this fall at universities and technical colleges. “Must we respond to this,” Meriwether wonders, “with severely reduced resources?”

The resolution approved by the UL faculty senate contains the same language as a resolution adopted by the faculty senate at Southern University. The document argues that budget cuts will “exacerbate Louisiana’s loss of its best and brightest,” and suggests the administration consider dipping into the state’s $854 million “rainy day” fund and tap into $437 million in economic development funds as an alternative to cutting higher education.

Meantime in Baton Rouge, state lawmakers got their first look Friday at a new formula for distributing higher-education funding. The Associated Press reports the formula would reward schools based on performance benchmarks such as graduation rates, curriculum costs, research work and curricula that train students for jobs in demand. This new funding paradigm would replace the current formula whereby money is distributed based solely on enrollment.

Walter Pierce
		About the author:

Articles by this Author:

View all articles by this author

Comments (3)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

...
written by Ivory Tower , March 23, 2009 - 05:26 pm

Exacerbate? Well, it's better than no job. Of course, at UL many are employed but few work, if any.

...
written by Kevin LeBlanc , March 24, 2009 - 03:53 am

Have you spent a day with an UL employee. The university is underfunded and many employees are handling two jobs. People like you in the ivory tower ought to get off of your butt and discover what is going on at the this university. The state is allowing the best asset to the growth of Lafayette to live on life support. It is a travesty that most people in Louisiana worry more about college football than college educations.

...
written by Ivory Tower , March 24, 2009 - 01:36 pm

"Have you spent a day with an UL employee" Yes, actually many days. And No, I don't worry about football, I never go any sporting events, if you don't count the dog shows.

You must be logged in to post a comment. Log in using your Facebook account or register if you do not have an account yet.

Most Read

Remembering Ricky Rees

The veteran police officer remembered by friends for his large and small acts of kindness will be laid to rest Wednesday.
Zachary Barker takes helm of the Opportunity Machine

Zachary Barker continues making waves in Lafayette’s business scene, mostly recently being named director of the Opportunity Machine.
Shakin' at the Shack

There will soon be a whole lot of shakin’ going on at Benny’s Sportshack Supplement Depot, a new concept by Opelousas native Benny Nele. Located at 2002 Johnston St., the supplement shop, smoothie bar and café, featuring hot off the press paninis and wraps, plans to open in late May.
Lafayette’s ‘sinking ship’ is cash flow positive

“We’ve crossed that magic threshold,” LUS Director Terry Huval says.
Child porn nets deMahy 2 years in prison

Philip deMahy Sr., a once respected New Iberia ad exec, was sentenced May 2 to spend the next two years (he faced up to 100 years) in a state penitentiary after state and federal investigators found dozens of images depicting children engaged in lewd sexual acts on his personal computer.

in case you missed it

COOL TOWN 2013

This year’s Cool Town issue is all about people who are not native to South Louisiana but made a conscious decision to be here, to be among us, to participate in our culture and contribute to it.
A curious compact

A shelved ordinance transferring $200,000 from a northside drainage project to a south Lafayette development may not break any laws, but it stinks to high heaven.
Pooyie 2012

It's good, it's bad and it's just plain crazy.
Saving Saturday Night

An effort to restore a shuttered dancehall and document other vacant or razed honky-tonks could serve as a model for saving an endangered species of entertainment.
Posthaste vs. HART FORTENBERY

Lafayette’s gene pool has been host to a long line of eccentric characters who have blurred the lines between crazy, genius, disturbed and curiously entertaining.