University Chancellor Michael Martin made the case for further autonomy as a means of easing budget concerns for higher education on Friday.
 
Martin joined representatives from the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, the University of Louisiana System and the Southern University System to discuss the challenges faced by higher education at the League of Women Voters monthly luncheon.
 
“The first thing I believe we need to do is free those of us who make very large salaries to be held accountable to earn them by managing our institutions from the operations side in the most effective and efficient way,” Martin said.
 
Martin suggested allowing the University to do a reverse auction to purchase the $170 million in supplies needed to operate each year. In this scenario, the University would receive a round of bids for a particular product or service, then publicly post these bids before receiving a second round of counter bids.
 
“We don’t want to be dishonest, we don’t want to be illegal,” Martin said. “Watch us to death. We have auditors everywhere. Believe me, I see them every week. There are auditors behind every live oak on our campus.”
 
Gov. Bobby Jindal proposed some similar autonomies in his higher education agenda earlier this semester. His agenda included allowing universities to carry forward some excess state dollars each fiscal year and reducing the red tape in the procurement of University property.
 
Martin again made his case for allowing universities the ability to increase tuition. Currently, tuition increases must be approved by the state legislature.
 
“I actually believe there is a benefit to students if we can ensure them we will have enough sections and courses to get them out in four rather than five years. We save them one whole year of tuition and a year in the job market,” Martin said.
 
UL System President Randy Moffett echoed Martin’s suggestions.
“We are a bargain,” Moffett said. “You need to encourage the Legislature to give us the opportunity to control tuition, generate revenues through autonomies, and I think you will see the end product of a better educational system. Don’t over regulate us.”
 
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Contact Xerxes A. Wilson at
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