While students were concerned with Tuesday’s hijinx in the Quad, Governor Bobby Jindal was holding a press conference announcing the LA GRAD program.Jindal’s plan would allow state universities to gradually raise tuition without needing to seek the approval of the Legislature. Universities would be allowed to autonomously raise tuition by 5 percent per year after meeting certain requirements — including increasing graduation rates, eliminating programs with low completion rates and increasing collaboration with two-year colleges.A two-thirds vote of the legislature is currently required to raise tuition. Louisiana is the only state that has this restriction.Jindal’s plan is a commendable balance of caution and progress. It will allow the University the freedom to raise revenue buttressing against the campus budget cuts causing program cuts and reduced services.It’s also important to remember Louisiana universities charge significantly less than equivalent institutions in the rest of the Southeast — this program will allow LSU to raise funds to compete academically.Of course, students and their parents have reason to be concerned. Paying more for a college education is a scary prospect — especially while emerging from a recession.But these changes will be a huge step toward preventing budget cut-related chaos. And Jindal’s plan will not allow any sudden or drastic increases in costs.The plan allows for universities to raise 10 percent annually. Once they meet the average costs of regional schools, they will only be able to raise costs by 5 percent.LSU, as the flagship university, will be expected to meet the average for other flagship schools — this means this campus will take its rightful place as the centerpiece of our higher education programs, both in terms of funding and in terms of increased admission standards and graduation rates.All in all, LA GRAD is a clever way to increase the quality of Louisiana’s higher education in a measured, responsible fashion — so we strongly support it.—-Contact The Editorial Board at [email protected]