Student Government released a response to the Board of Regents’ draft response to Act 619 of the 2016 regular legislative session, addressed to Commissioner of Higher Education Joseph Rallo on Feb. 6.
The letter, signed by SG president Zack Faircloth, said the Board’s proposals for adjusting TOPS pave the way for a “brain tax” and “create a disincentive to attend Louisiana universities and opens the door for the poaching of our students to rival states.”
The potential “brain tax” the letter mentions states that the more academically talented the student, the more they must sacrifice to attend college in-state.
SG’s response said University students oppose Proposals 5.6 and 5.9, which suggest reducing TOPS awards amounts based on students’ classifications and requiring an annual 30-credit hour requirement to receive the scholarship, respectively.
The letter states that Louisiana is in a “talent war” and that the suggested modifications are only quick fixes to a long-term problem.
“We are quick to work together to ensure meaningful reform like Senator Donahue’s SB48, but we will also be the first to say that the Board of Regents’ proposed changes to TOPS are detrimental to student success and Louisiana’s ability to compete for talent,” the letter states.