The University received a green designation on its targets for the LA GRAD Act from the Board of Regents on Wednesday, allowing it to raise tuition by 10 percent.
During the annual review of the LA GRAD Act, Larry Tremblay, deputy commissioner for Planning, Research and Academic Affairs, addressed the board as part of the Planning, Research and Performance Committee.
“It’s all based on student success,” Tremblay stressed. “If an institution doesn’t pass the student success standards, then they don’t pass. It’s that simple.”
However, LSU-Eunice did not pass those student success standards. It was the only institution to receive a red designation. The Eunice campus failed to pass three out of five student success targets – first-to-second year retention rate, same-institution graduation rate and statewide graduation rate. Under the GRAD Act Intervention Policy, $767,955 of LSU-E’s funding formula allocation will be retained by the LSU System, according to a news release.
Tremblay also said he has been approached by a few people about the possibility of lowering targets because of cuts. The ability to raise tuition is a vital step in meeting a budgetary gap, according to Provost Jack Hamilton.
“Cuts have put the University in a difficult situation,” Hamilton said. “Raising tuition is one of the ways that we can fill a portion of the deficit. But there is no easy solution.”
Tremblay further addressed budget cuts, specifically in reference to institutions meeting GRAD Act targets with more budget cuts looming.
“We are doing more with less, more and more with less and less,” he said. “There has been concern expressed by many that reaching these targets will be even more difficult because of budget cuts.”
The board also approved funding of concession stand renovation in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The project will use approximately $200,000 in capital outlay funds.
Another facility will also receive an upgrade. The board also approved a measure to upgrade patient rooms at the Health Sciences Center in Shreveport for approximately $2.2 million as part of Act 959. The act allows an institution to perform any renovation or construction project as long as it doesn’t exceed $5 million dollars. The institution must have the funding on-hand and cannot go into debt. The act allows the institution to completely surpass the capital outlay process. The board approved a similar measure in February to improve patient rooms on the fourth floor of the Health Sciences Center in Shreveport.
But renovations are not the only decision that will affect the University. The board approved a measure that will add a Master of Science in Construction Management to the College of Engineering’s curricula.
Wednesday’ meeting began with the announcement that Associate Commissioner for Facilities Rich Griswold is retiring. Griswold has served with the Board since 1991.
Robert Levy, chair of the Board of Regents, joked about Griswold’s retirement.
“He isn’t exactly kicking his feet up and relaxing,” Levy said. “He is going to be flying airplanes. We look forward to him doing that next year during the session.”
 
____ Contact Joshua Bergeron at [email protected]