Gov. Bobby Jindal announced Monday he will pursue legislation to consolidate the University of New Orleans and Southern University — New Orleans, emphasizing the unacceptable status quo among higher education in the New Orleans area.
The National Center for Higher Educations Management Systems presented the Board of Regents with the results of the study on the proposed merger which included two solutions for the Board.
Jindal said the study results found the current institutions are not meeting the needs of the students in the region and that there is “no evidence that the institutions, within their current governance and leadership, will improve their performance.”
He stressed the status quo, saying change is required.
Jindal, who was joined by House Speaker Jim Tucker and Sen. Conrad Appel, said he will begin drafting legislation based on Alternative B from the solutions presented by the study.
Alternative B will consolidate UNO and SUNO into one school — the University of Greater New Orleans — and establish the new university within the University of Louisiana system.
“The University of Greater New Orleans and Delgado would share in a ‘university college’ – a central access point for applicants that would place them in the right education environment for their academic needs,” he added.
Jindal said between the two options, Alternative B will better suit the students.
“Both options contemplate some kind of merger, but Alternative A creates another management board while essentially leaving the three institutions as they are today,” he said. “Adding bureaucracy is no way to reform the status quo.”
He said “less is more” when referring the management boards.