LSU - Plan for Moving Forward

PURPLE TIGER

I'm not sure how many of you are on LSU or TAF mailing lists, so here's a message in case you haven't seen it.


Dear TAF Members,

A sigh of relief swept across the landscape of Louisiana higher education when the governor recently announced his budget plan for the coming fiscal year, and we at LSU are pleased he has chosen a route that would spare higher education further budget cuts. His LA GRAD Act, if adopted by the state legislature, will open a new door to the future of Louisiana universities.

Higher education in Louisiana has changed dramatically over the last 18 months as a result of three separate budget cuts. While the governor’s budget would provide some financial reprieve, the future of state funding for higher education, like many other facets of the state budget, is not promising. Change is now a permanent way of life for all of us whose budgets include state funding.

As the flagship university in Louisiana, it is incumbent upon LSU to seek new paths for success. Flagships do not resist change; they lead it. Thus, we are developing a plan at LSU that will allow us to dictate our own change, a plan that, through the next decade, will produce higher quality graduates, significant discovery through more robust research, and deeper community engagement.

How will LSU become a greater University? We are choosing to do so. Every great institution, company or organization comes to a crossroads in its development when it must choose a path, and LSU is choosing to play a more significant role in the future of our state. LSU is in a unique position to – more than any other institution in Louisiana – produce the people, the research and the results to make that future brighter.

We will not only produce more graduates who will fill jobs; we will create mature business leaders who will create jobs. Our researchers will address the important problems of the state, including issues unique to our region such as coastal erosion. It is our goal to make LSU a force in developing a vibrant economy with a thriving citizenry for a better Louisiana, nation, and world.

The plan is three tiered and is intended to give LSU the resources necessary to be less dependent on the fragility of the state budget. We must stop living from budget to budget if we intend to maintain the upward trajectory that we have earned in recent years.

Indeed, LSU has proven it can perform when given the proper resources. Beginning in the late 1980s when we increased entrance requirements, continuing with successful Flagship Agenda launched in 2001 and most recently with the funding increases we were afforded by the state from 2007-2009, LSU has improved our graduation and retention rates, added faculty, advanced research and improved academic facilities as we achieved Top Tier status. We can’t – and we won’t – allow that improvement to be reversed.

The three-part plan calls for change, focus and autonomy.

First, we must change the way we do business through efficiency and entrepreneurship. We must reduce costs and increase revenues. We will reduce costs by becoming more efficient in our day-to-day operations and seeking creative methods for effective spending and saving. We will attempt to renegotiate contracts to allow us to better utilize funds generated from outside resources.

Also, we will increase revenues by becoming more entrepreneurial and more diverse in our business endeavors. We will develop online degree and professional development programs to meet the needs of a modern generation. We will aggressively pursue public-private partnerships that will be mutually beneficial to LSU and the community. And we will streamline our fund-raising activities with the goal of building a healthy endowment to give us more financial security in the years ahead.

Second, we must focus our resources through internal adjustments and improved enrollment management. We will re-evaluate our mission by focusing on the things we do best and those things that are most likely to positively impact the future of our state. We will review all academic programs, centers and institutes in order to reallocate a minimum of $10 million in funds over the next several years to those units that have a competitive advantage. Ancillary units such as the Child Care Center and museums will become self-sufficient, much like the Athletics program and other auxiliary departments. During this time some units will be reduced and others will be eliminated with the goal of emerging as a leaner and more focused university.

Also, we will increase our student enrollment with a goal of 5,000 new students per year and we will recruit more transfer students and enter into partnerships with two-year colleges to increase and better serve our transfer population. We will strive to continue the upward trend we have established of increased retention and graduation rates.

Third, we will seek autonomy to manage our business effectively. LSU must have the flexibility to manage our revenues by having more authority to determine what we charge for tuition and fees. Currently, state universities must seek approval from the state legislature to increase those revenue sources. We applaud the governor’s plan, which would allow universities to increase tuition when they are meeting performance objectives. The legislation would set benchmarks for graduation and retention rates that would allow us to increase tuition incrementally as we continue to lead the state in these measures.

Also, we will seek some measure of administrative authority to allow LSU to do business in an efficient and effective manner employed successfully by private enterprise. The governor’s LA GRAD plan would allow universities to carry forward surpluses from budget year to budget year, creating an incentive to reduce costs and save money. LSU will also seek continued flexibility by the state in travel policies and similar autonomy in purchasing procedures and personnel decisions that would be beneficial to the business operation of our University.

These three measures – change, focus and autonomy – are a combination of significant internal transformation and necessary external assistance that can provide LSU the philosophical direction and financial freedom to chart a consistent course of excellence.

We welcome input on how to make LSU a greater institution. Please visit www.LSU.edu/budget for more detailed information on our plan and write to budgetsuggestion@lsu.edu with your thoughts and recommendations for our future.

As LSU marks its 150th anniversary, we will take this opportunity to celebrate a rich history that has brought us to this crossroads. Looking forward, we are committed to transforming this great university into a truly remarkable university, one that will boldly lead the change in Louisiana higher education that will make our state and our citizens equally remarkable.

Sincerely,
Michael V. Martin, LSU Chancellor

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stevescookin

Other than the links to the budget website and the budget suggestion website, I think this letter is a lot of "rah rah". It's an eloquent letter that leaves me scratching my head asking what is the chancellor trying to say here.

Change, focus and autonomy seem like a trite rallying cry which can only be answered by another trite rallying cry...."Yes we can".

Not much substance and vision here...no real specifics.

He should have just said:
First, were going to cut costs by laying employees off and not funding the departments like we used to.
Second, We're going to enroll a lot more students that will strain the system beyond what's going on now.
Third, we're gonna raise tuition and fees like you wouldn't believe (like the banks and insurance companies do).

The chancellor sounds like a well spoken Les Miles who uses a lot of buzzwords that actually leave you eager to swallow the bitter medicine that's coming down the pike.

But what do I know, I'm just a cook..."Would you like fries with that opinion?"

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lsudolemite

This is a naked tuition and federal funding grab. John Lombardi has wanted to jack up enrollment here since day 1. People unfamiliar with college academic rankings don't realize that the actual quality of undergraduate education matters very little next to the amount of money coming in.

Having said that, here's the reality facing LSU.

• We are a public university whose state funding has become an absolute joke. LSU also has to share state funds with other public in-state schools that aren't pulling nearly enough weight. With a state the size and population of Louisiana, we could do well with 5-6 public 4-year universities. Louisiana has 12, and none of them are gonna have the funding spigot shut off no matter how unproductive they are. You think Grambling is ever going to be defunded? Please.
• The legislature and the governor don't have the political cojones to fix the ridiculous state constitutional protections for every other aspect of the state budget from sudden cuts, except for higher ed and health care. And honestly, after listening to years and years of politicians wringing their hands bemoaning the "brain drain" from Louisiana to neighboring states for jobs/education, I have little patience for more excuses. Higher ed is clearly not a priority for the state, and I think that reflects upon the priorities of many people in the state. You can bet that if the football program depended mostly on state support, and that support was suddenly drastically cut 3 times in a row, the Capitol building would still be burning as I type this.
• LSU's hands are tied in terms of raising tuition since the legislature holds the purse strings. Tuition is tied to TOPS, which in turn is tied to the state budget. Enormous fees, on the other hand, are not covered by TOPS. IMO, minimum qualifications for TOPS are way too low, but raising them would also see a lot of opposition. The legislature is not about to turn over complete tuition control back over to LSU.

There's a lot to quibble about in the details, but I agree with the thought behind it. It is clear that LSU absolutely cannot depend on the state for any consistent, meaningful funding, and it's a wise move to reduce that dependence as much as possible.

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stevescookin

I hear ya. And I don't know enough about the funding process to have a real valid opinion.

I just think the letter should have been more direct... and spare me catch phrases and buzzwords that mean something specific to a select few...especially when it's directed to a general audience.

The "Yes we can" reference was meant to symbolize political speech writing which sounds coherent, but is designed to be ambiguous so the speaker can't be pinned down. I hate the fact that eloquence has taken over coherence in non political speech and writing. The most complex thoughts can be expressed in simple terms.

Language should be more for communicating thought and less about communicating impressions. Otherwise it becomes "Multa anhelans agens nihil.

Or..."Very much out of breath doing nothing."


(four years of Latin finally paid off )

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lsudolemite

You should see the weekly doom and gloom emails we get from Martin about the budget situation. He makes sure to send those on Fridays just in time to ruin my weekend.

Martin is a politician. The first function of a politician is to get reelected; the second is to grovel for money from their constituents (La. legislature). This was something O'Keefe excelled at when he was Chancellor at LSU. As a direct result of that and tightening admissions standards, LSU moved from the bottom tier in academic rankings to the first. Like the Saints winning the SB, it was something I never thought I'd see in my lifetime. And all of that is about to be undone in the span of 2-3 years. I love this university and it kills me to see this.

By the way I'm under no illusions that all these fees would magically disappear if LSU could double their tuition overnight. Take the Union fees (yes, 2 of them), whose construction is ridiculously behind schedule. As it is there will be 2 or more generations of students who will never be able to see or take advantages of the renovations but are forced to pay for it. Even after it's all finished I'm sure the fee will just be renamed to a Union "maintenance" fee. It'll never go away.

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stevescookin

Hey Dolomite,

Speaking of the priorities you mentioned in an earlier post, we're the only ones discussing academics and commenting on the chancellor.

The baseball team is undefeated......we're the ones that have to get our priorities straight.

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lsudolemite

Ain't that the truth!

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eL eS shU

This is such a crock. It is the most misleading information and LSU was way too proud of it.

LSU moved up a few spots in the rankings and is now a top tier?

Tier 1 and 2 were combined and LSU is still in a 6 way tie for last place in what is actually tier 2.

I love LSU and wish it ranked higher academically, but it is what it is. 128th

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VICTORY

Bandit88

I agree with that - but there may be a method to this madness.

The first step in becoming what you want to be, is to start acting like what you want to be. In a way, by trumpeting academic achievement, the school is taking the first steps towards fulfilling it on a broader level.

Of course, they have to back it up with action and hard work. Otherwise - embarrassment awaits.

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"I have a fairly strong feeling that his career for the most part will be wasted at LSU."

Forum member discussing Russell Shepard's future at LSU, January 26, 2009.

http://lsutigerbait.blogspot.com

lsudolemite

I'd argue that the entire ranking system is a crock, since a big percentage of the total score is based largely on existing reputation before you get to a single objective metric, thus ensuring that Ivy League schools will never take a hit to their ranking. And yes, LSU has played both sides in the past, downplaying poor showings and overhyping better ones. But regardless of its real importance it is a selling point for the university to prospective students, and is an indicator that the university was heading in the right direction. Now it looks like LSU is about to take 2 academic steps back after taking 1 forward.

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JayB

money doesn't educate people, great teachers educate people. and LSU baseball is #1.

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GEAUX TIGERS!!!!!!!!

Bandit88

And how does one attract great teachers? Hmmmm?

Sing it with me, JayB.

Money, money, money, mo--ney........MO-NEY!

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"I have a fairly strong feeling that his career for the most part will be wasted at LSU."

Forum member discussing Russell Shepard's future at LSU, January 26, 2009.

http://lsutigerbait.blogspot.com

lsudolemite

Play ball!

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eL eS shU

LSU is having a mass layoff and we are attending interviews for candidates each week for a couple new positions. Sustainable design and Computer Modeling.

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VICTORY