Acting Chancellor William Jenkins wrote a April 15 letter to The Daily Reveille editorial board explaining the need for more funding that must come either from state appropriations, tuition increases or operational fee increases.
The Governor’s Preliminary Executive Budget includes a 1.7 percent budget increase for LSU that would bring the per student state appropriation to the Southern regional average, Jenkins wrote. Yet even with this increase “LSU would be unable to provide a faculty pay increase of make quality improvements mandated by the National Flagship Agenda.”
“It is regrettable that we must have this discussion on tuition and fees,” Jenkins said. “But unless our State decides to make more of an investment, we must consider other ways of keeping our University moving in the right direction.”
Of 50 flagship universities, LSU ranks 46th lowest in tuition andfees, Jenkins said. And of 29 Southern regional peers, LSU’s tuition and fees rank 26th lowest.
Jenkins said unless the budget is amended to include additionalfunding, the “only hope of improving the University lies with thestudents.” To secure the funding, at least one of two State House bills will need to pass the legislature.
House Bill 734 proposes a 5 percent tuition increase over two years, which Jenkins said will allow a 4 percent faculty merit pay increase.
House Bill 677 mandates a $250 per semester operational fee increase per student. This bill will increase funding and provide a minimum of 20 new faculty positions costing $3 million, a minimum of 85 new graduate assistantships costing $2 million, additional advisors and counselors costing $1 million, an additional $1 million in scholarships, a $3 million increase for information technology and the library, $1.1 million for facility maintenance and an additional 2 percent faculty merit increase costing $2.6 million.
“Tuition and fee increases are never popular,” Jenkins said. “But in the past, the student body has responded favorably when students believe the quality of the University was at stake.”
Jenkins stressed the fact that students qualifying for a full PellGrant will be exempt from the new fees. Additionally, some of the budget increase will be used to increase the merit-based aid program, Pelican Promise.
“What level of quality do we want for ourselves and our state,”Jenkins asked. “Is it permissible for Louisiana’s best and brightest to experience or have access to less than that which is offered to students at Florida, Georgia or Tennessee universities?”
—-Contact Nicholas Persac at [email protected].