2/8/14

Or… North of Exit 80: Observations on Higher Education in Northern Louisiana with Comments on Causes of and Responses to Budget Problems 2

2009: Initial Crisis  2009 was at the low point of the Financial Industry Debacle.  Financial Engineering of “sub-prime” house mortgages did nothing to limit risk. People and governments didn’t understand this. House prices go up %10 to %20 per year forever. Really!  Well, Wall Street and AIG thought so, too.  … as did the Federal Reserve and the Treasury.  Everyone lost a lot of money in the end, but increased their budgets in the interim using housing debt as the engine.  Unemployment spiked and Louisiana State Tax Revenue declined.  This decline was worsened by a non-revenue-neutral tax repeal of the Stelly Tax. This blew a bigger hole in the budget – nearly a half billion dollars a year. 3

2009: Initial Crisis  Louisiana law and constitution left Health and Higher-Ed to take the cuts to balance the budget.  There was concern that budget cuts could be as much as $6 million dollars. The actual cuts were $27 million in real, inflation adjusted terms over the next 6 years.  For example, ULM can no longer provide students the opportunity to study and gain a degree in:  Chemistry,  Physics,  Sociology,  Laboratory Medical Science. 4

: Chronic Situation  2010 –Federal Stimulus Starts Paying.  The Federal Stimulus Plan started paying money to the States to lessen the impact of the 2009 crisis. This helped, but it didn’t cure the overspending headache and avarice of the 2000’s. Louisiana didn’t participate to any great extent, but it still suffered from the effects of the ‘disease’.  Louisiana Legislature Passes the GRAD Act.  We were promised help, funding, and tuition relief if we could meet the requirements of the GRAD Act.  For example, ULM met these requirements:  increased our retention rate.  increased our graduation rates ( 30% to 38%).  eliminated low-completer programs (this means Chemistry, etc.) 5

Personnel Reductions 6 From Pres. Bruno’s State of The University Address

La. State Expenditures by Area Source: FY La. State Budget

La. State Expenditures by Area Total: $25.4 Billion FY Source: FY La. State Budget

Five Year Tax Comparison Source: FY La. State Budget FY08FY09FY10FY11FY12 Total Col.$9,133 M$8,481M$6,962 M$7,017 M$7,153 M

Five Year Tax Comparison Source: FY La. State Budget

Five Year Tax Comparison Source: FY La. State Budget

The Take-away 12 Source: FY La. State Budget Overall Higher Ed revenues have declined: due to economic conditions, due to non-revenue neutral tax reductions, due to unfunded mandates such as retirement, health insurance, etc., and no increases to offset changes in the cost of living.

The Take-away (con’t) 13 Source: FY La. State Budget Higher Ed increased tuition, but these increases have been taken by further cuts in State funding. This has had the effects of: Students per class have doubled in cases, Professor and Instructor positions are reduced resulting in more students for fewer teachers. Fewer sections for students, Less individual attention, So, the Higher Ed public service mission has suffered.

ULM Efforts  ULM has just completed an internal reorganization from five Colleges to three.  We are also working to become a larger, better recognized online and remote learning provider.  The ULM Faculty and Staff Senates have been working with Northern and Central Louisiana Interfaith to change the public discourse on higher education in northeast Louisiana.  We have begun a cooperative effort with Interfaith, Grambling State University, Louisiana Tech University, Louisiana Delta Community College, local and state officials to better inform our State on the necessity of proper fund for Higher Education in Louisiana. 14

Northern and Central Louisiana Interfaith  Started in Monroe in1998.  A broad-based coalition of 60 member institutions in Alexandria/Pineville, Lake Providence/Tallulah, Monroe/Ouachita Parish and Shreveport/Bossier.  Affiliated as Together Louisiana with Together Baton Rouge and The Jeremiah Group in New Orleans, (approx. 200 members statewide).  Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) – the oldest and largest community organizing institute in the country. 15

Northern and Central Louisiana Interfaith (cont.)  Key role in the movement which derailed the tax swap proposal in  Led a campaign which resulted in an open public forum about the transition of the public hospitals.  Emphatically non-partisan, political organizations.  Do not endorse political parties or candidates.  Do not solicit or accept money from government officials, office seekers or political parties. 16

REGIONAL ACTION - PRE- LEGISLATIVE SESSION  Thursday, February13 - SUMMIT ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE – ULM SUB 2 nd Floor, 2:30 – 4:30p  A public conversation with Legislators about Higher Education and Community priorities for the development of Human Capital in Louisiana  Organized by NCLI with the senates from ULM, LaTech, GSU and LDCC  Dr. Sandra Woodley, ULS System President to present WISE Plan.  Q & A w NeLA Senators and Representatives and Institution Presidents 17