Academic research is a fundamental part of LSU, and the looming state budget cuts will impact the amount and quality of research for current and future generations, said animal science professor and Faculty Senate member Kenneth Mcmillin.
Numerous research articles are published each year by faculty members from various disciplines, including members of the colleges of science, agriculture, business and engineering.
College of Science Dean Cynthia Peterson said the budget cuts will decrease the number of faculty hired, negatively impacting research productivity.
The college is currently in a hiring phase, but it may come to halt depending on the budget proposal to be released Friday by Gov. Bobby Jindal.
While most research in the College of Science is funded through state grants, the number of faculty plays a direct role in the amount of funding received, in turn affecting the amount of research produced, Peterson said.
“LSU is a research university. A big part of our mission is research and that certainly is at risk if we have to take some draconian cuts that are projected,” Peterson said. “In order to bring in research dollars, we have to have faculty on the payroll doing the research and writing the grants.”
The College of Science’s yearly budget is $37 million. A five percent cut to the budget would be difficult to handle, and a 10 percent cut would put the college in a precarious situation, Peterson said.
The LSU AgCenter and College of Agriculture will also see research negatively impacted by the budget cuts, which may have an effect on Louisiana’s crop and livestock trade.
Mcmillin said the AgCenter produces and provides valuable research to Louisiana’s farmers and ranchers.
“A major part of the AgCenter is to produce research and extend it to the community,” Mcmillin said.
Parish offices, made up of teams of field agents who provide direct support to rural farmers, and research stations will have to close as result of the budget cuts, Mcmillin said.
Mcmillin said some famers and ranchers live in rural areas that do not have Internet service. Field agents are the only means of relaying valuable research regarding crops and livestock.
“The long-term effect is that information will not be available for the future,” Mcmillin said.
Since 2008, nearly $700 million has been cut from higher education in Louisiana.The College of Agriculture and AgCenter continue to feel the effects.
Academic research is a fundamental part of LSU, and the looming state budget cuts will impact the amount and quality of research for current and future generations, said animal science professor and Faculty Senate member Kenneth Mcmillin.
Numerous research articles are published each year by faculty members from various disciplines, including members of the colleges of science, agriculture, business and engineering.
College of Science Dean Cynthia Peterson said the budget cuts will decrease the number of faculty hired, negatively impacting research productivity.
The college is currently in a hiring phase, but it may come to halt depending on the budget proposal to be released Friday by Gov. Bobby Jindal.
While most research in the College of Science is funded through state grants, the number of faculty plays a direct role in the amount of funding received, in turn affecting the amount of research produced, Peterson said.
“LSU is a research university. A big part of our mission is research and that certainly is at risk if we have to take some draconian cuts that are projected,” Peterson said. “In order to bring in research dollars, we have to have faculty on the payroll doing the research and writing the grants.”
The College of Science’s yearly budget is $37 million. A five percent cut to the budget would be difficult to handle, and a 10 percent cut would put the college in a precarious situation, Peterson said.
The LSU AgCenter and College of Agriculture will also see research negatively impacted by the budget cuts, which may have an effect on Louisiana’s crop and livestock trade.
Mcmillin said the AgCenter produces and provides valuable research to Louisiana’s farmers and ranchers.
“A major part of the AgCenter is to produce research and extend it to the community,” Mcmillin said.
Parish offices, made up of teams of field agents who provide direct support to rural farmers, and research stations will have to close as result of the budget cuts, Mcmillin said.
Mcmillin said some famers and ranchers live in rural areas that do not have Internet service. Field agents are the only means of relaying valuable research regarding crops and livestock.
“The long-term effect is that information will not be available for the future,” Mcmillin said.
Since 2008, nearly $700 million has been cut from higher education in Louisiana.The College of Agriculture and AgCenter continue to feel the effects.
“We have been cut so much over the last five years and we’ve kind of stabilized,” Mcmillin said. “But now, where do you cut?”
Potential research-producing faculty members may look elsewhere when searching for employment as a result of the University’s situation.
Faculty Senate President Kevin Cope said the budget crisis makes the University less attractive for future employees.
“Anyone who has any kind of choice, seeing the situation here, will conclude that this is not a safe bet for the development of their career.” Cope said
“We have been cut so much over the last five years and we’ve kind of stabilized,” Mcmillin said. “But now, where do you cut?”
Potential research-producing faculty members may look elsewhere when searching for employment as a result of the University’s situation.
Faculty Senate President Kevin Cope said the budget crisis makes the University less attractive for future employees.
“Anyone who has any kind of choice, seeing the situation here, will conclude that this is not a safe bet for the development of their career.” Cope said