House Bill 537 • Senate Bill 183
Provides for a comprehensive, integrated
postsecondary education delivery system for
the New Orleans region.
Joint Presentation to UNO faculty, staff, and students by
House Speaker Jim Tucker and Senator Conrad Appel
May 2, 2011
2
Why merge?
Source: Senate Resolution No. 123 (2010 session)
• Hurricane Katrina impacted postsecondary education in the
region as severely as it did the cultural and physical
landscape.
• Colleges and universities have made diligent, valiant, and
tireless efforts to rebuild and recover enrollment, facilities, and
programs. Although great progress has been made, more
progress is needed to produce student and institutional
outcomes in accordance with the GRAD ACT.
• Current levels of enrollment and funding and the quality and
capacity of existing facilities are insufficient to sustain
successfully the long-term viability of these postsecondary
institutions.
3
Why the UL System?
Founding Chancellor Homer
Hitt knew in 1965 that UNO’s
presence in LSU System did
not serve UNO’s best
interests.
WDSU-TV
July 21, 1965
4
Enrollment
Why the UL System?
FY 12
Executive
FY09-10 FY10-11
Budget
July 1
FY08-09
FY09-10 Mid Year Mid Year approved by
Budget, Mid Year
Decrease
Cut
Cut
Regents vs.
FY08-09
Cut
(millions) (millions) (millions) LSU System
(millions) (millions)
proposal to
HAC
on 3/31/2011
Cumulative
Reduction
(millions)
UNO
11,363
$70.9 $3.15
$6.0
$3.8
$1.6
$2.2
$16.7
LA
Tech
10,607
$62.9
$4.5
$2.9
$0.6
n/a
$10.7
$2.7
Comparing UNO’s recent budget reductions to those imposed
at a like-sized institution in a budget unit with no “off-formula”
entities demonstrates that UNO has borne $6 million more in
budget cuts than similar institutions in the same time period.
5
Why the UL System?
• More appropriate governance structure that groups UNO
with other SREB-II institutions
• Ability to be more responsive to needs of New Orleans
industry and workforce:
Ph.D. in Material Science – Time to approval:10
years.
Ph.D. in Engineering and Applied Sciences
(proposed in response to industry demand) – Time to
approval: 5 years.
6
Why the UL System?
• Ph.D. in International Studies – submitted 5 years ago; no
review or comments received. Private donations received
to date: approximately $1.85 million.
• B.S. in Transportation and Center for Transportation
Studies funded by state for three years prior to systemlevel approval.
• Proposed change in format of online Engineering
Management Program to meet demands of working
students was denied.
• Other attempts at similar e-learning proposals also
denied.
7
Process
June 11, 2010
Senate Resolution 123 introduced directing the Board
of Regents to study public postsecondary education
offerings in the New Orleans region
January 18, 2011
Governor Jindal asks the Board of Regents to study
merger, move to UL System, and greater
collaboration with Delgado.
March 14, 2011
The National Center for Higher Education
Management Systems presents its findings.
March 15, 2011
BOR votes to accept the report’s findings and
recommends that the legislature adopt Alternative B.
April 15, 2011
Deadline to file bills for the 2011 Regular Session of
the Louisiana Legislature
8
HB 537 / SB 183 as proposed
• Consolidation of UNO and SUNO into University of Louisiana
at New Orleans (ULNO)
• Within ULNO, two colleges with different admissions criteria,
academic focus, and course offerings: 1) a research college
with graduate programs and 2) a primarily undergraduate
college
• Branch campus of Delgado to be co-located on ULNO campus
• Shared admissions and academic and financial aid counseling
center (“portal”) located within Delgado at ULNO; serves both
colleges and promotes transfer from 2-year institution
9
Revisions proposed by UNO
• Refer to two colleges as “units”
• Differentiation of diplomas from each unit
• Differentiation of admissions: course level within each unit
should be consistent with the mission of that unit. No
single unit responsible for all general education courses.
• Clarification of Delgado’s role: developmental instruction,
lower level general education courses
10
Revisions proposed by UNO, cont.
• Identify research-centered colleges to be located within
the research unit, including sciences, social sciences,
education, business, arts, and humanities. Degree
programs offered by the research unit are critical to the
regional economy. The research unit serves
undergraduates who meet its admission requirements.
• Consider name alternatives
11
Transition Timeline
August 1, 2011
UNO and SUNO chancellors submit
to SACS individual letters of intent to
change governance to UL System
management
July 1, 2012
UNO and SUNO chancellors jointly
submit to SACS statement of intent to
consolidate under UL System
management
Immediately upon receipt of approval from SACS and final
approval from the UL Board of Supervisors, SUNO and
UNO cease to exist as separately accredited institutions
and shall be consolidated, along with their assets, funds,
obligations, liabilities, programs and functions into the newly
and properly accredited institution.
12
End Result
• World class educational environment that will meet the
academic needs and interests of every student, while
providing each student with the support, assistance, and
guidance necessary to attain his/her goals.
• Raise the educational attainment of the population,
improve the quality of life, and contribute to the well being
of the New Orleans region.
• Optimal use of facilities, faculties, and other resources.