Gov. Bobby Jindal announced Tuesday he asked the Board of Regents to conduct a study to analyze the potential outcomes of merging the University of New Orleans and Southern University-New Orleans, which are both struggling with low graduation and enrollment rates.
Jindal said the study will be an extension of the Regents’ ongoing initiative passed by the Legislature last year to examine the regional coordination, maximization of
resources and quality of offerings in the New Orleans area by March 1.
The Regents hope to have the full study completed by that deadline in time for the legislative session starting March 20.
UNO is currently part of the LSU System, while SUNO is under the Southern University System. Jindal’s possible merger would be transferred into the University of Louisiana System.
Jindal said the UL System has been proposed to govern the merged institution because it does not currently own a flagship campus, but the UL System does have experience working with community colleges, as well as with research institutions.
Jindal said he has been in communication with the management boards of the universities, and that nothing will be decided until after the study is completed and the recommendations are approved by the Legislature.
“The LSU System remains firmly engaged in the support of UNO’s mission and will work closely with UNO, its many constituencies and the Board of Regents on any proposals,” LSU System President John Lombardi said in a news release.
In addition to the merger, Jindal asked the Regents to look at a greater collaboration effort by the universities with Delgado Community College. He said the required collaboration would be in the sharing of facilities, staff and other resources.
“Both UNO and SUNO, which are just blocks apart, are currently under-enrolled and have empty classrooms while Delgado is struggling to meet the needs of their community with limited space,” Jindal said.
Regents Chairman Robert Levy welcomed the challenge and said the study will reflect what is best for the state.
“It’s our constitutional duty to do this and report to the Legislature,” Levy said. “We intend to do our duty.”
 
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Contact Sydni Dunn at [email protected]