Flagship Friends

Four former Louisiana governors appealed to Gov. Bobby Jindal to preserve higher education as much as possible. Gov. Jindal committed not to cut state appropriations by more than 10%. Higher education is currently bracing for a 15% cut to state appropriations amounting to $219 million, of which LSU’s share is $32 million. These figures exclude [...]

Per Baton Rouge Business Report Daily Report AM http://www.businessreport.com/archives/daily-report/2009/jun/03/1015/ The state Senate has approved postponement of a rollback of the Stelly tax plan, despite opposition from House members. Sen. Lydia Jackson, a Shreveport Democrat, says her bill would ease proposed budget cuts to higher education by generating $118 million. The bill would push back by [...]

No matter which way it’s cut, the nearly $50 million budget reduction expected for next fiscal year will severely damage Louisiana’s flagship university, Chancellor Michael Martin emphasized Tuesday. The University is busy drafting its budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year in preparation for the House Appropriations Committee meeting on April 21. The tentative budget will [...]

The University administration is considering re-tooling academic college structures to foster collaboration and improve efficiency, LSU Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Astrid Merget said a broadcast e-mail sent Friday afternoon. Merget said these possible changes have been in the works for a while and are not a reaction to possible budget cuts. “There will some [...]

Members of the Board of Regents received anticipated higher education budget cut figures for the 2009-10 fiscal year on Wednesday, under which the LSU System would see a reduction in state funding of $102,087,705. Gov. Bobby Jindal’s proposed state spending budget has higher education taking a $219 million reduction, on top of the now permanent [...]

Louisiana universities and colleges will receive significantly less money from the state next couple of fiscal years.The cuts could eventually lead to a budget shortfall. “Unless the economic conditions change for the better, higher education in Louisiana will be required to respond to a $440 million shortfall by 2012,” said Commissioner Sally Clausen. Higher education [...]

The cut to higher education this year is $219 million, and that’s after an additional $219 million in temporary federal stimulus dollars is included to help fill the budget gap.  So what might that mean for the future of higher education in Louisiana? Well, unless the economy turns around quickly, it could add up to [...]

Tuition, fee increases probable LSU Chancellor Michael Martin told the LSU community Wednesday that he prefers the short-term approach of forcing employees to take time off without pay over a layoff plan. But the budget still needs to be cut. “If we can’t furlough, we’ll lay more people off,” he said. In addition, a 5 [...]

Ryan Buxton Contributing Writer The Staff Senate is bracing itself for staff members to take a hit from the upcoming budget cuts. Budget concerns were the primary topic Wednesday at the Staff Senate’ meeting. Staff Senate President Patricia Beste told senators now is the time to prepare for the worst. “I want everyone to be [...]

Leslie Presnall Staff Writer Anne Howe attended the University when the Quad was a vast field of grass lined with dirt paths. The few cars on campus traveled down unpaved roads. Incoming male freshmen were required to shave their heads. And a scholarship then could only purchase a movie ticket today. “I remember how cheap [...]